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Production of tea: Packing tea for export
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Artist
Anonymous
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Year
19th century
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Media
Gouache on paper
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Dimensions
39.5 x 49 cm
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Museum No.
AH1975.0055.012
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Description
From the middle of the 18th century to the eve of the Opium War, Guangzhou was the only port in China open for foreign trade and, as a result, all sorts of goods for import and export could be found here. Of all the Chinese export goods, tea was the foremost commodity. Grown and picked in Fujian province, the precious plant was transported by river to Guangzhou, where it was packed before being shipped overseas. This picture presents a typical tea-packing scene: at the rear, tea is being trampled down into chests, which are then weighed on the tripod in the centre; in the foreground to the left, a Chinese supplier and a Western merchant discuss final arrangements before shipment.
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—Collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art
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