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RARE AND IMPORTANT WORKS FROM THE CHI FAMILY COLLECTION (LOTS 1376-1381)The collection of Mr. Chi is the result of a lifetime’s dedication to connoisseurship and beauty. For more than half a century, Mr. Chi built an exceptional assemblage of Chinese paintings, and is celebrated as a man whose taste led others to recognize the importance of Chinese culture and history. Mr. Chi’s enthusiasm for Chinese culture encompassed Chinese paintings and Classical Calligraphy, epitomizing the scholar gentleman traditions of connoisseurship.Graduating from University of Shanghai, Mr. Chi worked in the financial sector in China in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and held a position as General Manager of Standard Chartered Bank in Harbin. He later moved to Shanghai in 1940s and started his own business, Yongfengde Hao, a pioneer of foreign trading. Lots 1378-1381 were created by calligraphers in celebration of Chi’s grand opening of Yongfengde Hao. These gifts by such prominent calligraphers of the time is indicative of Mr. Chi’s close ties to the political and cultural world, and a reflection of his social status. Despite being occupied with running his business, Mr. Chi had a deep appreciation and taste for Chinese art, and purchased works by Zhang Daqian in the 1940’s. In Chinese New Year of 1949, the Chi family took a family portrait in Shanghai with Guanyin After Early Tang Style (Lot 1376) hung on the wall of their mansion, symbolic of its importance within Mr. Chi’s collection. After 1949, the family immigrated to Taiwan, and later to the United States. The two Zhang Daqian paintings and four calligraphic works also traveled with them on their journey, passed down by descent, and has been treasured by the family to this day.According to Chi family’s recollection, the two works by Zhang Daqian were purchased from an exhibition in Shanghai. According to Zhang Daqian’s biography, Zhang held exhibitions at Chengdu Road, Shanghai, during May 1947 and May 1948, and it is very likely the present two paintings were acquired during these particular shows.On 12th November 1967, the National Museum of History in Taipei held a special exhibition of art and cultural relics of Dunhuang (Bulletin of the National Museum of History has the exhibition list, which includes the Dunhuang exhibition1) and these two works were loaned especially to the museum for the exhibition for which the National Museum of History wrote a letter of gratitude to Mr. Chi and this has been kept in the family to this day.Mr Chi’s tremendous journey in collecting, witnessed in this present Collection, continues to be worthy of celebrating - such was his passion for the paintings he collected, the family lived with the art fully appreciating its beauty and importance. Guanyin After Early Tang Style and Horse After Northern Wei Style have been with the family for over 60 years, with the former hung in the sitting room of the collector’s house and the latter displayed in the his daughter’s bedroom.
LI SHIZENG (1881-1973)
Calligraphy
Details
LI SHIZENG (1881-1973)
Calligraphy
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
35 x 83 cm. (13 ¾ x 32 5/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Yongfengde Hao Grand Opening
PROVENANCE:
Gifted on the occasion of the original owner’s business grand opening in 1940’s, and passed down by descent.
NOTE:
Li Shizeng , also known as Li Yuying, was born in Gaoyang of Henan. He was a social educationist and one of the founders of the Palace Museum. He was also a founding member of Kuomintang and the first board member of Nantung University.
Calligraphy
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
35 x 83 cm. (13 ¾ x 32 5/8 in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Yongfengde Hao Grand Opening
PROVENANCE:
Gifted on the occasion of the original owner’s business grand opening in 1940’s, and passed down by descent.
NOTE:
Li Shizeng , also known as Li Yuying, was born in Gaoyang of Henan. He was a social educationist and one of the founders of the Palace Museum. He was also a founding member of Kuomintang and the first board member of Nantung University.
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