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FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE HONG KONG COLLECTOR (LOTS 1375-1404) Zhang Daqian and the collector’s father Mr Li met during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Mr Li then owned textile mills in Chongqing, Chengdu and Baoji. The artist was in Dunhuang at the time, along with his family and students, studying and copying mural paintings in the Dunhuang caves. Mr Li knew that Zhang and his companions were in need of daily necessities, thus arranged for food and other essentials to be sent from Baoji to supply the group’s needs in Dunhuang. To express his gratitude, Zhang gifted several paintings to Mr Li, among which were the magnificent Red Lotus and Mandarin Ducks (Lot 1376) and Birds on Branch (Lot 1375), both fine examples of flower and bird paintings in the meticulous brush (gongbi) style in the prime of the artist’s life between 1943-44. The current collector has been focusing on supporting education by founding and donating to educational scholarships for many years. He devoted to the acquisitions of art in the 1980-90s, and amassed a wonderful collection of paintings. This collection offers an opportunity to revisit the family’s historical footprints and affinities for art.
REN XIONG (1820-1857)/REN XUN (1835-1893)/REN YI (REN BONIAN) (1840-1895)/REN YU (1853-1901)
Flower and Birds, Landscape, and Figures
Details
REN XIONG (1820-1857)/REN XUN (1835-1893)/REN YI (REN BONIAN) (1840-1895)/REN YU (1853-1901)
Flower and Birds, Landscape, and Figures
Album of seven oval fan leaves, mounted and framed, ink and colour on silk / ink and colour on gold paper
Each leaf measures approximately 26 cm. (10 ¼ in.) in diameter
1. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated third day of the third month, gengxu year (1850)
Dedicated to Cunbo
2. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Dingfu
3. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Yanmou
4. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated xinsi year (1881)
Dedicated to Xingsheng
5. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
6. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated summer, sixth month, xinsi year (1881)
7. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated autumn, jiashen year (1884)
Seven collector’s seals of Ye Qianyu (1907-1995)
Flower and Birds, Landscape, and Figures
Album of seven oval fan leaves, mounted and framed, ink and colour on silk / ink and colour on gold paper
Each leaf measures approximately 26 cm. (10 ¼ in.) in diameter
1. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated third day of the third month, gengxu year (1850)
Dedicated to Cunbo
2. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Dingfu
3. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dedicated to Yanmou
4. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated xinsi year (1881)
Dedicated to Xingsheng
5. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
6. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated summer, sixth month, xinsi year (1881)
7. Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated autumn, jiashen year (1884)
Seven collector’s seals of Ye Qianyu (1907-1995)
Provenance
Christie’s Swire Hong Kong, Fine 19th and 20th Century Chinese Paintings, 30 September 1991, Lot 181.
Brought to you by
Sandy Yom