FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS & WORKS OF ART

FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS& WORKS OF ART

10th & 11th November 2020

DEPARTMENT JOHN AXFORD +44 (0) 1722 424506 jea@woolleyandwallis.co.uk

FREYA YUAN-RICHARDS +44 (0) 1722 424589 fyr@woolleyandwallis.co.uk

JEREMY MORGAN +44 (0) 7812 601098 jm@woolleyandwallis.co.uk

AMBER LEES +44 (0) 1722 424571 aml@woolleyandwallis.co.uk

Now accepting consignments for the 18th & 19th May 2021 sale.

Closing date for entries 26th February 2021.

OPPOSITE. A large Chinese blanc de Chine figure of Guanyin, 18th century, 59.5cm Provenance: from an English private collection, West Yorkshire, purchased from Hugh Moss at Grosvenor House in the 1970s. With a paper label for Hugh M Moss Ltd to the interior Estimate £15,000 – 20,000

1. Amber Lees with a Chinese pale celadon jade carving of pomegranates, Qianlong 1736-95, 7.7cm Estimate £7,000 – 8,000

VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT Friday 6th November Saturday 7th November Monday 9th November

2. After Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione), 19th century, Chrysanthemum, ink and colour on paper, 58cm x 32cm (part lot) Provenance: from the collection of Alexander Gordon Stephen (1862-1924), and thence by descent, now in the collection of his descendant Colonel Sir James Lindsay Estimate £1,000 – 2,000

GUANYIN AND THE DRAGON KING’S SON Guanyin is the Chinese representation of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, and she has been one of the most popular subjects in Chinese art for centuries. She is often portrayed carrying a variety of different items, each with their own symbolic meaning. This impressive 18th century blanc de Chine figure depicts Guanyin holding a basket containing a fish, which is a reference to the traditional folk tale of Guanyin and the South China Sea. In this story, the Dragon King’s son went swimming in the sea in the form of a carp, but he was caught by a fisherman. As he was on land, the Dragon King’s son was unable to change back into a dragon and he was taken to be sold and butchered at the market. Upon hearing the news, Guanyin gave her attendant Shancai all her money to buy and rescue the fish. However, the Dragon King’s son had attracted a large crowd at the market because he was the only fish still alive hours after being caught. Believing that the remarkable fish would grant the one who ate it immortality, everyone at the market bid to

buy the fish. Shancai was outbid and begged the fish seller to spare the fish’s life. Shancai’s efforts were unsuccessful and angered the crowd, but Guanyin intervened, announcing loudly from afar that a life should belong to one who wishes to save it rather than one who wishes to take it. Ashamed by their desire, the people all dispersed and Shancai obtained the fish. He brought the fish to Guanyin and she placed him back in the sea, allowing him to transform back into a dragon and return home.

AUSPICIOUS FLOWERS AND FRUITS In China, the chrysanthemum is an emblem of both autumn and longevity. This painting of chrysanthemum blooms was in the collection of Alexander Gordon Stephen (1862-1924) and has since been passed down through his family, now belonging to his descendant Colonel Sir James Lindsay. Originally from Aberdeenshire, Alexander Stephen joined the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in 1882. Stephen was then transferred to Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai, where he was appointed as chief manager in 1920.

During his time at HSBC Shanghai, Stephen commissioned three pairs of bronze lions, which are still displayed at the HSBC buildings in Hong Kong, Shanghai and London. The lion on the left-hand side of each pair is popularly known as Stephen in memory of him.

This 18th century jade carving is formed as another auspicious symbol in China: pomegranates. The pomegranate, along with melons and gourds, represents fertility and abundance because the fruits have many seeds. On this carving, the pomegranates are depicted with some of their skin peeled back. This image forms the rebus liu kai bai zi, which means ‘the pomegranate opens revealing one hundred sons.’ This jade thus conveys the wish of producing many offspring and heirs.