(China, Qing Dynasty.) A circa late 19th/early 20th Century ...

Hammer

£140

(China, Qing Dynasty.) A circa late 19th/early 20th Century book containing 12 Chinese pith or rice paper paintings, Qing dynasty, all depicting criminals and forms of punishment, with the original printed description of the paintings list as issued, scenes depicted in the paintings include slapping the mouth for telling lies; punishment by stretching criminal on wooden bench; punishment by cangue, or wooden pillory; torture by pressing the ankles of criminal with wooden poles; banishment; "Ling Ch'ee (i.e. cutting off the flesh of the criminal piece by piece."; "Beheading-the Capital punishment in China.", etc, each painting approx. size 8 x 12cm, small oblong album (10 x 13cm), orig. silk covered boards, string ties, printed list of paintings loosely inserted, pencil ownership inscription at front "H.J.A. McCaffery- Canton-China. April '03"