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Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
21-Nov-2019
Lot No.
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Description:
A set of four painted rectangular porcelain plaques, Wei Yongsheng (1910-1975), Republic period 80 x 20 approx. each (4). Provenance: Private collection, Canberra, acquired in Shanghai prior to 1949 and thence by descent The group depicts four famous recluses in the Chinese history, paired with objects with which they are famously associated. They are: Tao Yuanming, holding a basket of chrysanthemum, Yan Guang, carrying a fishing rod, Li Bai, with an emptied wine jar by his feet, and Wang Xizhi, observing a goose. The inscribed poems on each plaque also allude to stories about them. Wei Yongsheng was working for the Jingdezhen Ceramic Studio during the mid 20th century, and teaching in the Jingdezhen Ceramic Academy by 1956. Wei's painting style was greatly influenced by Wang Qi (1884-1937), one of the eight masters of painted ceramics in Jingdezhen during the Republic of China. The shading of the figures' faces in a very realistic manner in this group was Wang's signature technique, which was in turn influenced by European oil paintings. Compare another painted plaque by Wei dated 1945, see Innovations and Creations: A Retrospect of 20th Century Porcelain from Jingdezhen, pl. 78, in which the manner of outlining the folds of gowns, known as head of nail and tail of mouse' dingtou shuwei can also be seen employed in this group too.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Oriental: Ceramics - Chinese