AN ALBUM OF TWELVE LEAVES EXOTIC FISHES STUDIES QING DYNASTY, STUDIO OF YOUQUA, 19TH CENTURY 清 煜呱畫室 通草紙畫各式魚類圖 畫冊（共十二幅） gouache on pith paper, mounted with ribbon to paper leaves, brocade-covered cardboard covers, depicting various species of fishes, a label stamped 'Youqua Painter, Old Street, No.34' affixed to the first sheet in the album (17.5cm x 28cm each; album: 15.2cm x 33.5cm) Qty: (1) Provenance: By family repute from the collection of Sir George Balfour (1809-1894), British consul at Shanghai 1843-46; thence by descent. Note: Youqua is regarded as one of the finest Chinese export painters active from the 1840's to the 1880's. Little is known about the life of this Cantonese export painter, but he is known for his fine works in Western style depicting port scenes, landscapes, still lifes and flowers. Youqua originally started in Canton at number 34 Old Street, corresponded to the address on the label of this lot, and later opened a second studio in Hong Kong at number 107 Queen's Road, both under the name of 'Yeehing'. By the 1850's Youqua was regarded as the best studio at that time. Fish as a subject matter is rarer than exotic birds and flowers by Youqua. Compare to an album of eleven pith paintings depicting exotic fish, stamped Youqua, sold at Christie's London, 21 Jun 2006, lot 195.