Lot Essay
The dedication in the upper colophon to xinru refers to Professor Na Zhiliang (1902-1998), a native of Beijing. From humble beginnings, Na's studious nature placed him at the top of his class, and was very much admired by his headmaster Chen Yuan. In 1925, through Headmaster Chen's recommendation, Na worked at the Palace Museum in Beijing at the age of 17, subsequently working there and at the National Palace Museum in Taipei for over seventy years. Dedicating his life to the museums, Na oversaw the documentation of relics at the palace, assisted in the establishment of the National Palace Museum and coordinated travelling exhibitions to London, among other contributions. Settling in Taiwan, Na also edited many of the museum's exhibition catalogues and became friends with many artists.