A series of 8 pen and ink drawings (5 coloured, 1 also highlighted in gold), drawn from Chinese books, possibly the 14th-century Sanguo yanyi or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All mounted on European paper (6 on 3 different patterns of decorated paper). The paper of the drawings ranges from 23.5 x 14 cm to 24 x 15 cm. They show the following (outdoor and indoor scenes):
1) 2 warriors on horseback, one of whom has just beheaded the other and carries his head away (the beheaded warrior has not yet fallen from his horse), while his superior watches on horseback with 2 attendants.
2) a man standing with a spear in the prow of a boat, while 2 men and a woman sit at a tea table in the boat, which flies a flag and pennant.
3) 5 people on 2 boats, one flying a flag and pennant.
4) 4 soldiers bringing a woman to a dignitary at his house.
5) a delegation visiting a dignitary.
6) 2 men playing go, with 4 attendants and a guard.
7) a dignitary at a writing table, with attendants and visitors.
8) a seated dignitary with 6 standing figures, 1 with a document at a table.
In the backing paper of number 7 one can make out an Amsterdam coat of arms watermark. It is difficult to see clearly but seems to follow the general style of Laurentius 71-95 (1662-1675). The 3 patterns of decorated backing paper show: a flower pattern printed in gold on green; 2 patterns with more abstract decorations in a diamond pattern printed in gold on white.
With this series, we include a watercolour drawing and a woodblock print:
9) watercolour drawing of irises along a stream with hills in the background (17 x 22.5 cm).
10) rectangular woodblock print of a Samurai at a tea ceremony (14 x 10 cm), possibly derived from a Japanese book.
Some edges of the drawings a little frayed, but otherwise in very good condition.