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Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata): 4171.7

An image of Drawing
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An image of Drawing
An image of Drawing
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata)

Maker(s)

Youqua

Entities

Categories

Description

A watercolour drawing from the album 4171. This image depicts a pair of mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) in their natural aquatic habitat beside a lotus pond. The male duck has colourful plumage including a distinctive reddish-orange head and neck, prominent white facial stripes, and wing markings featuring brilliant blue and white striped secondary feathers. His body shows rich chestnut flanks contrasting with darker wings and back. The female exhibits the more subdued brown and grey plumage. They are depicted in a lotus pond. The painting demonstrates the fine brushwork characteristic of Chinese export art from the late 18th or early 19th century, combining ornithological documentation and traditional Chinese flower-and-bird painting style.

Measurements and weight

Height: 250 mm
Width: 337 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1909) by Bothamley, Rev. H.

Note

Export album made for the Western market

School or Style

Chinese
Chinese export art
Chinese export watercolour

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour
White highlights
Ink

Components of the work

Support composed of pith paper

Techniques used in production

Drawing : Watercolour, bodycolour and ink with heightening in white on pith paper, laid down with with strips of blue silk-covered paper

Identification numbers

Accession number: 4171.7
Primary reference Number: 185669

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 11 October 2011 Updated: Thursday 28 August 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026) "Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/185669 Accessed: 2026-01-14 22:01:11

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/185669 |title=Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-14 22:01:11|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp82/large_4171_287_29_201106_amt49_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata)"
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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata)</figcaption>
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