Artist: General Cao Kun (December 12, 1862 - May 15, 1938)
Calligraphy Couplet
Ink on paper, Yisebiao mount, Vertical Axis Hanging Scrolls
Painting (Sight): Length: 178 cm, Width: 37 cm (EACH)
Signed/Seal(s): Signed, with Two seals

PROVENANCE:

These Important Paintings collection all originated from one prominent collector, spanning from Lot-95 to Lot-160 (Day 1), continuing from Lot-402 to Lot-456 (Day 2).

LOT NOTES:

General Cao Kun (December 12, 1862 - May 15, 1938), courtesy name: Zhongshan; was a Chinese warlord and politician, who served as the President of the Republic of China from 1923 to 1924, as well as the military leader of the Zhili clique in the Beiyang Army; he also served as a trustee of the Catholic University of Peking. Cao was born to a poor family in Tianjin. During the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, he went with the army to fight in Joseon. After the war was over he joined Yuan Shikai to participate in the training of the New Army (known as the Beiyang Army). Admired by Yuan, Cao managed to rise very quickly. By the time of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution he commanded the Beiyang 3rd Division. He was made a general in the Beiyang Army and led the Zhili clique after the death of Feng Guozhang. During the 1918 election he was promised the vice-presidency by Duan Qirui but the office remained vacant after most of the National Assembly left, depriving it of a quorum. He felt betrayed by Duan and defeated him in battle in 1920. After forcing the resignations of both Xu Shichang and Li Yuanhong, and engaging in bribery, he became president of the Republic of China (in Beijing) on 10 October 1923, serving to 2 November 1924. In March 1922, Cao attempted to launch an airline, "Beijing-Han Airlines", with a Handley Page aircraft (likely a modified HP O/400). Unfortunately, the airline's 3-day trial tour ended in disaster: the plane crashed on approach to Beijing, killing all 14 onboard. Cao had a family connection to the Chinese Muslim military commander Ma Fuxing, who resided in Xinjiang.