CHINESE FAMILLE-ROSE PORCELAIN WALL PLAQUE
REPUBLIC PERIOD (1912-1949)
FIGURES NEAR A CHINESE TEMPLE
ANONYMOUS

It is very difficult to find such a large Chinese famille-rose porcelain plaque, especially one that is so finely enamelled with such excruciating detail. We are offering two plaques in this sale, this Lot #11 and the previous Lot #10. The quality of the workmanship and fine detail indicates that this plaque could have only been painted by a gifted and master painter. The facial features are superb and all have the appropriate shading and shadowing, giving a sense of realism. The minute details on the clothing are beautiful with robes and gowns flowing with elegance and refinement. Each person holds, in their graceful fingers, a special flower, perfectly painted and enamelled with great elegance and beauty.

The man, in his red-orange robe, is fiery-eyed and holds a magnificently painted, enamel, Chinese fan in his left hand. In his right hand he holds what appears to be a red peony. The lady on the right holds in her graceful and slender fingers a half-blossomed lotus in her slender fingers, her head is tilted with grace. The lady to the front holds two sprays of roses, two roses in blossom and two in bud. The gowns of both ladies are detailed and flowing with grace. Both ladies have feminine embellishments in their hair. Each lady wears a pair of long, drop earrings, one pair appearing to be made of rare, red coral and the other of natural pearls. The three figures stand in front of a beautifully rendered Chinese temple. The temple is decorated with special and expensive, blue tiles. In the backdrop of the temple is a large and graceful tree, its branches wafting in a gentle breeze. Under the tree, in contrast, is a very large Scholar’s rock, known as a “gōngshí”. Appreciated since the Tang dynasty, gōngshí take an important place in the the gentleman’s Chinese garden, where they are appreciated for four refined qualities… thinness (shou), openness (tou), perforations (lou), and wrinkling (zhou).

We could not find a signature or seal on this plaque. However, it is painted in the same manner and framed with the exact same kind of metal hanger as a set of four plaques that were sold by Christie’s… Sale 2580, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part II, 13 - 14 September 2012, New York, Rockefeller Plaza, where they were presented as Lot 1578 with a seal that reads “Meishu Taohua Xuexiao.” The plaques that were sold at Christie’s were smaller than this plaque, our Lot #11, as well as the plaque in our Lot #10.

Dimensions
· The overall size of this plaque, with the frame and metal hanger, measures approximately 14.75 x 47 in (37.47 x 119.38 cm)
· The porcelain plaque itself measures approximately 8.5 in x 32.5 in (21.59 cm x 82.55 cm)
· The plaque, in frame, weighs approximately 19 lbs (8.62 kg)


PLEASE MAKE SPECIAL NOTE: THIS AUCTION WILL BE RUN AUTOMATICALLY BY THE LIVEAUCTIONEERS COMPUTER SYSTEM. KNOWN AS A “LIVE TIMED AUCTION (AUTOMATED CONSOLE),” THE BIDDING WILL TAKE PLACE VERY QUICKLY AND THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE OF A PAUSE BETWEEN BIDS. PLEASE BE PREPARED, IN ADVANCE, TO IMMEDIATELY PLACE YOUR BID WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES.

IN ADDITION, THIS IS A NO RESERVE / NO BUYER'S COMMISSION AUCTION. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN PLANNING YOUR BIDS.

Thank you and enjoy the auction!

Some old grit and small areas of rubbing to areas near where the frame holds the porcelain, but does not distract from the painting. Otherwise in very excellent condition. If you would like further photos, we invite you to send a direct email request and our staff will be happy to assist you.

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All statements by us in the online catalogue entry for the property or in the condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, are statements of opinion and are not to be relied on as statements of fact. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. All property is sold “as is” without any representation or warranty of any kind.