*Please note this painting will be available for viewing in New York City, May 9-17. Please call for an appointment, 646 320 8317

Kao Wou-Ki, Zhao Wuji, Chao Wu-chi (Chinese-French 1920-2013) "Oiseaux dans les nids", "Birds in the nests" oil on canvas, 1951. Signed lower right "Zao Wou-Ki"; inscribed, titled in French and dated on verso: "ZAO WOU-KI", "OISEAUX dans les nids", "2, 1951". Zao's works, influenced by Paul Klee, are oriented to abstraction. He names them with the date in which he finishes them. Zao Wou-Ki stated that he had been influenced by the works of Matisse, Picasso and Cézanne. His auction record of RMB 89,680,000 (US$14,718,771) was set at Sotheby's, Beijing, on 1 December 2013. PLEASE NOTE: Our thanks to Yann Hendgen, Directeur artistique, Fondation Zao Wou-Ki, Geneva Switzerland, for his assistance in authenticating this work. The artist's catalogue raisonne will be updated to reflect this and a certificate of authenticity will be issued shortly. (ZAOW4401) [AC] NOTE: To view this piece any any point before the auction/exhibition please call 1-860-567-4661 to make an appointment. MEASUREMENTS: Art: 16 x 13 Frame: 28 5/8 x 25 3/8

Overall good, no craquelure and when viewed under blacklight, no visible in-painting, but with a minor loss to the right edge of the canvas. When first identified, the canvas was initially backed with a matte board and poorly framed. LCA contacted Yost Conservation LLC in Oxford CT. After the removal of the matte board, the title, “Oiseaux dans les nids”, the date, “2, 1951” and the hand printed signature “Zao Wou-Ki” was revealed on the reverse of the canvas. The painting has been now archivally conserved with strip liners and custom made stretcher bars.