06/18/2026
the ladies are back- part of my collection of fairly common 19th century Chinese reverse glass painted portraits are back above the bed. Made for the export market in what was then called Canton (now Guangzhou) the paintings are of idealized Chinese women made for the European and American markets. My Chinese associate Xiao warned me to take them down from above my bed and other walls in the room as their spirits will haunt me in my sleep- but the fact is Im sleeping more soundly than ever. I like to think they watch over me and ward off on ill begotten energy that may lurch into room - anyway I love to look at them and marvel that they were painted backwards on a clear sheet of glass and then mirrored after being painted…The marvels of man before we were all enraptured by our gadgets xxJH
