GUI DIAN (1867-1958)
Couplet Calligraphy
A set of two scrolls, mounted and framed, ink on gold-flecked paper
Each scroll measures 131 x 32.5 cm. (51 ½ x 12 ¾ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist
Dated xinmao year (1951)
Dedicated to Baling

SPECIALIST’S NOTES:
Wu Baling (1904-1976) was born in Nanhai, Guangdong. The founder of the Yung Sheh Hiking Club, he joined the Overseas Chinese Daily News in 1936 and was promoted to Chief Editor of the Hong Kong News section. During his tenure, he invited artists to inscribe on the covers of his publications, and befriended many Hong Kong artists, including Zhou Qianqiu (1910-2006), Zhou’s teacher Zhao Shao’ang (1905-1998) and others. Wu often joined their meetings and received many works from them.

In this collection, there are calligraphic works by famous Late Qing scholars and art collectors in Guangdong, such as Cen Guangyue (Lot 1623), Gui Dian (Lot 1627) and Lu Danlin (Lot 1628). Cen participated in the final civil service examination held in 1904 before the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Cen moved to Hong Kong in the latter half of his life and worked as educators in secondary schools. Gui, born in Nanhai, Guangdong province, participated in the civil service examination in 1894, was prefect of Yanzhou in Zhejiang, and then participated in writing gazetteers and local histories for several prefects in Guangdong, including his native Nanhai. He was also a vivid collector of Chinese paintings. Lu Danlin, born in Sanshui, Guangdong, joined Sun Yatsen’s Tongmenghui in 1911, later left political circles to pursue a career in newspaper publishing in Shanghai in addition to teaching. He was also a collector of Chinese paintings.

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