Images of the 18 ahraths - Chi-pa-lo-han-thou. Album of 24 leaves, the first 18 decorated with an arhat painted in gold and silver, each titled in ideograms with the name of the ahrat represented. A very interesting album belonging to Natalis Rondot, brought back from his mission in 1843. Rondot wrote a summary page with the transcription in Roman characters of all the names of the ahrat, also transcribed under each representation. Silk-covered boards featuring five-clawed dragons in clouds. In a red half-maroquin slipcase, 5-ribbed spine, the boxes enhanced with cold fillets, gilt title, signed Lortic. (very slight worm work in the margins, some rubbing to the case). Provenance: Natalis Rondot French economist, art historian and silk industrialist, Natalis Rondot was delegated by the Reims Chamber of Commerce to represent France in China on an extraordinary mission to negotiate trade treaties from 1843 to 1846. During this trip, Natalis Rondot became interested in Chinese, Japanese and Indochinese cultures, their silk-working techniques and learned Chinese. On his return, he made a decisive contribution to the development of Lyon's silk industry in the 1850s. Appointed by the Chamber of Commerce in 1856, he founded the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie de Lyon, the future Musée Historique des Tissus, which he inaugurated in 1864. Expert: Mr Nicolas Asvisio - nicolas.asvisio@gmail.com - 06 47 79 88 52