Drawing by william alexander, draughtsman of the macartney embassy to china in 1793. The mother is in the dress of the northern provinces; the peak on her forehead is of velvet, and adorned with a bead of agate or glass; her hair is combed back. Father wears, appended from his girdle, a tobacco purse, knife case, and his flint and steel. The elder girl has her hair twisted into a hard knob at the crown, and ornamented with artificial flowers; she is prepared for dinner, having her bowl of rice by her, and her chopsticks in her hand. Smoking tobacco was universally prevalent in china. Image taken from the costume of china, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in london in 1805. Date: circa 1800.
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