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Lot 1616 - A183 Photography - Wednesday, 06. December 2017, 02.00 PM

AFONG, LAI

(ca. 1839-1890)
"D. E. G." (cover title). China and Hong Kong, circa 1870. Album with 12 original photographs.
Coloured albumen prints mounted on printed backing boards. Vintage. Each ca. 22.5 x 27 cm; Album 28 x 34.5 cm. Contemporary half linen binding with gold embossed cover title.

Literature:
- Chen, Shi. Early Chinese Photographers from 1840 to 1870: Innovation and Adaptation in the Development of Chinese Photography. Florida, 2009, p. 24-39.
- Léon, Cécile (ed.). First Photographs of Hong Kong, 1858 - 1875. Hong Kong 2010.
- Copy, Jeffrey W. & Frances Terpak. Brush & Shutter. Early Photography in China. Los Angeles, 2011 (ill. frontispiece).

The Chinese photographer Lai Afong initially worked for José Joaquim Alves de Silveira, before he became one of the first indigenous photographers to set up their own studio. The "Afong Studio" was active from 1859 until the 1940s and reached its peak in the spring of 1870, becoming one of the most well-known addresses in the then highly competitive photography market in the colony of Hong Kong. In the 1890s, the studio was probably taken over by the son of the photographer and, although not as prominent a studio as under the leadership of its founder, it remained in business until after the Second World War.

The portfolio contains architecture, landscapes and studio portraits: "Cattedrale di Hong-Kong", "Chiesetta di S. Giuseppe (Hong-Kong)", "Porto di Hong-Kong", "Funicolare di Hong-Kong", "Giardini pubblici (Hong-Kong)", "Monti di Hong-Kong", "Pagoda dei 500 idoli (Canton)", "Scuola chinese", "Comedianti chinesi (Canton)", "Sala per fumare opio", "Merende alla chinese", "Carrozella chinese (Hong-Kong)". - Judging by the printed inscription, probably formerly owned by an Italian collector.


CHF 2 000 / 3 000 | (€ 2 060 / 3 090)

Sold for CHF 2 750 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.