Paintings on mica originating in India were produced in standard sets for the colonial tourist market. They imitated paintings on glass, which were popular in Europe.  Subject matter included Hindu gods and goddesses, religious events, trades-people, and flora and fauna of the sub-continent.

From a suite of images depicting native tradespeople from India.

Created for and sold through the East India Company

Note: Often referred to as “Company paintings”, they were primarily sold to employees of the East India Company and tourists visiting India. They were created in the nineteenth century in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, southern India.

They usual come in sets of images, mounted two to a page and bound in a paper folder.  Over time many of this painting have been damaged and lost pigment from handling.

An excellent example of 19^th century native “folk art” from southern India.