Panjiayuan Market

Vintage food tokens, painted wood on canvas

37 x 54cm

SOLD

A collection of original, vintage Chinese food tokens arranged on canvas with a three-dimensional component. The work is mounted behind conservation glass within a whitewashed, wooden frame.

These little pieces of Chinese history were discovered at Panjiayuan Market in Beijing and are here laid out in a colourful, geometric pattern. They are rice and noodle tokens used by Chinese citizens during the rationing years of the late 20th century

Painted balsa strips act as spacing dividers between the tokens and also seek to emulate traditional Chinese design found in windows, gates and other architectural features.