Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

How to Identify a Chinese Lithographic Print of Musicians

Invented in Bavaria in 1796, lithography soon gained global popularity, since it was a relatively inexpensive way to reproduce high-quality images for mass consumption. In China it was particularly popular from the 1870s to the early 1900s, although it was used to great effect during the Cultural Revolution by the Chinese Communist Party, which used the process to produce copious amounts of posters and materials. Identifying original lithographs takes knowledge and practice, and there are a number of pointers that can help you identify a piece featuring musicians as a Chinese original.

Instructions

- 1
  Read as much as you can on Chinese lithographs to familiarize yourself with the subject. Christopher Reed's "Gutenberg in Shanghai: Chinese Print Capitalism 1876-1937" will give you significant insight into the golden age of lithography in China and the center of productivity in Shanghai.
- 2
  Authenticate the instruments played by the musicians in the image as Chinese instruments, such as stringed instruments, including the erhu, pipa and guzheng, and woodwind instruments, such as the xiao and dizi.
- 3
  Clarify that any writing on the image is actually Chinese and not another Asian script. Additionally, be aware that a lot of lithographs of musicians were produced in Mongolia and not China, and the untrained eye could easily mistake a Mongolian lithograph for a Chinese one.
- 4
  Check the lithograph carefully for signatures and other written clues. Use a magnifying glass to carefully scrutinize the image for signatures that may be hidden within the artwork itself.
- 5
  Look for a serial number on the lithograph. The serial number 86-CEFG followed by a three-digit number means that the print was intended for export during the Cultural Revolution. Any print that appears in languages other than Chinese, commonly English, French and German also indicates that the print was made for export during that period.
- 6
  Check the lithograph to ensure that it is not a reproduction. It should bear the signs of the original hand-printed woodcut print, but the ink line will be nearly indistinguishable from the paper.
- 7
  Consult with experts in Asian arts for their opinions on specific lithographs. Do not expend a large amount of money on a lithograph until you have confirmed its authenticity.

Other Collecting