Lot # 39 - Framed Chinese Firework Label – Gold Embossed Foil (1850-1910)

Opening Bid : $ 5.00
Pickup Instructions: 3/1/2025
Start Date/Time: 17-Feb-2025 7:00:00 AM
End Date/Time: 24-Feb-2025 7:38:00 PM
Current bid:

$11.00

Highest bidder:

Erickson95

Auction has ended

Description :

Framed Chinese Firework Label – Gold Embossed Foil (1850-1910).

This handmade Chinese firework label is an ornate gold-embossed foil and painted paper artwork used between 1850 and 1910 as an advertisement for the fireworks industry. These labels were originally attached to crates of fireworks to attract buyers and were so successful that few have survived. Fireworks were commonly exploded with their packaging, making intact labels rare.

The imagery reflects myth, legend, and daily life in vibrant color and shimmering gold leaf, showcasing the highly sophisticated paper craft techniques of late 19th-century China. Some workshops employed as many as 20 artisans per label, using assembly-line methods to emboss and paint these intricate designs. This framed piece serves as a historical artifact, preserving a unique aspect of Chinese cultural and artistic history. See pictures for details.


Auction History

Highest bidder is Erickson95

Date Bid User
24-Feb-2025 7:09:22 PM $11.00 Erickson95
23-Feb-2025 10:47:34 AM $5.00 Acorn

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