Finding this one in an unexpected corner of a shop in southern Maine last week made me very happy. It is a small in scale accordion fold book (like a mini Froebel kindergarten album in that regard--and the papers used for the paper cuts here have the exact quality the papers used for early kindergarten paper cuts and paper weavings!) It features 46 page faces of original Chinese paper cuts, called Jianzhi--an ancient Chinese art form, first executed in gold and silver leaf, with the paper cuts traditionally used as decorations for windows, doors, and walls, particularly during festivals like the Chinese New Year.
I thought it would be easy to turn up another example akin to this one in order to date it, but it has not. I found an exact match for the paper used for the back cover here as the end papers of a book published (in Spain) in 1880-- though certainly an old scrap might have been put to use. Definitely it has good age to it, though, and all factors considered I would think early 20th century. Wonderfully done, full of fortuitous imagery and a great cast of subjects represented, from the character "Fu", meaning good fortune or happiness, to deities to kabuki actors to Chinese cabbage, on and on. (Of course the girl with butterfly is my favorite.) This feels to me very much as if made for a child--and feels quite akin in spirit to a couple of wonderful 19th century Japanese notebooks I've had of Semamori embroideries (made to be worn on children's kimono, as protective amulets of sorts.)
Closed 5 5/16" x 3 3/8" x 7/16. 46 page faces filled with one or more cut paper works. Very good condition. Photos document nearly all pages. Some general toning/spotting to the pages, as documented. One tiny tear to top edge center of front cover, minor.
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