Chinese Watercolour Painting on Silk, framed, first half C20th

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Auction Start: 27/01/26 19:20:00 UTC
Auction Ending: 11/02/26 20:06:00 UTC
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LOT NUMBER 4
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LOT NUMBER 4

Chinese Watercolour Painting on Silk, framed, first half C20th

A watercolour painting on silk depicting two scholars in a stylised garden scene, one reading from a scroll while the other looks on, with a boy attendant pointing to a spray of prunus which he is holding in his right hand. In the foreground are rocks while in the background is the exterior of a pavilion with a flowering prunus tree behind. To the top right are lines of calligraphy and a four character stamped red seal. The calligraphy is possibly an extract from a poem by Li Ciming (1830-1894) whose work tended to focus on the prunus tree and its associations. If so, the seal mark might possibly be his. Certainly, prunus blossom, often known also in English as hawthorn or plum, seems to be the central theme here. Known as a symbol representing for resilience, purity, and perseverance because it blooms in winter, it was frequently depicted in Chinese Art. Here, the young boy seems to be directing the attention of the two gentleman scholars to the spray of it which he holds in his hand and perhaps the scroll in the hands of one of them describes the tree itself. The composition is appealing and the drawing skilful with the work most likely dating to the early twentieth century, some years after Li Ciming’s death.
Size: Frame : 23cm x 30cm x 1.8cm Watercolour (visible) 15.5cm x 26cm
Weight: 454gm
Date: First half C20th
Condition: Excellent condition generally, the painting very slightly rippled in a few places due to the mounting; the frame with one scratch (c 4cm) to the top left side.
Estimate: £40 – 60

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