A Chinese Blue and White Dragons Plate

Dimensions: Diameter 27 1/2 inches, Height 4 5/8 inches (70 cm x 12 cm)

Robert Stanley Hope Smith Collection (1910-1979)
Previously owned by the Li Hongzhang family

Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), a native of Hefei, Anhui, was a prominent statesman, important political, military, diplomatic, industrial, and reform figure, as well as the founder and highest leader of the Huai Army during the late Qing Dynasty. The Li family had had involved in several industries in Anhui, including real estate, land, canal transportation, and salt production.

In 1890, Li Hongzhang established a large-scale pawnshop called "Tong Xing Hao" in Hefei. "Tong Xing Hao" was the largest pawnshop in the Hefei area at that time, storing pawned items such as jewelry, jade, antiques, celebrity calligraphy and paintings, ancient books, gold and silver jewelry, and more. After Li Hongzhang's death and the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor, Li Jingfang (1855-1934), who is noted as Li Hongzhang's stepson, gradually withdrew from politics. Li Jingfang owned three pawnshops in Wuhu named "Yuan Feng," "Yuan Cheng," and "Yuan Qing." In 1933, he made a will, and in 1934, he passed away.

Li Guoxi was born in 1910, the son of Li Jingfang, born when Li Jingfang was 55 years old. Li Guoxi not only frequented brothels but also loved to go to casinos, often using large amounts of land deeds and money to gamble, eventually ending up in poverty and misery.

This auction of a British private collection contains several Li family's previous possessions where the items bear pawnshop seals. Additionally, the consignor provided a ledger, presumed to be a pawnshop account book, with Li Jingfang's signature matching that on the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" and stamped with Li Jingfang's personal seal, indicating it to be the account book of the Li family's pawnshop.