Song Meiling (宋美齡; 1897-2003) aka Madame Chiang, framed Chinese traditional painting, ink and color on paper laid to silk, signed and dated, in the Autumn of Mingguo 39th year (ca. 1950), September 2nd. To congratulate Wu GuZhen's father, Mr. Shu Zhai Birthday.
Stunning rendering of a Fu bat swooping toward luscious peach fruit, by Soong Meiling (1897-2003). The bat appears life-like due to its precise proportions and rich coloration. Two large peaches pull the supporting limb toward the earth below due to their girth. Peaches are known to resemble immortality, marriage, and spring-time. Daoist also believe the peach tree grows near the palace of ‘Xiwangmu’ who is the Queen of the Immortals. Combining the peach and Fu-bat speaks of fertility. The bat is representative of males and the peach represents femininity. The foliage is painted in bright green which compliments the pink hue of the fruiting bodies. Semi cursive script is located on the paintings left edge followed by an official red seal. Matted on grayish-celadon silk, wooden framed, and set behind glass.


Dimensions: Height: 43 1/2" Width: 18 7/8"

PROVENANCE:
From the heirloom collections of Wu Guozhen (吳國楨; October 21, 1903-June 6, 1984) was a Chinese political figure and historian, government official who served as mayor of Hankow (1932-1938), mayor of Chung-king (1939-1941), political vice minister of foreign affairs (1943-45), mayor of Shanghai (1946-1948), and governor of Taiwan (1950-1952) and the former Chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government. He resigned in 1953 and went to the United States.

K.C. Wu lived in the United States where he served as professor of Chinese history at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. During his time in the United States, he wrote various works, including a detailed analysis on Chinese culture in the context of mythology and early history in his book The Chinese Heritage.

Wu is remembered mainly for his vital role in the formation of a liberal modern Taiwan and his anti-communist beliefs typical of a member of Kuomintang, but he is also remembered for his brave anti-Kuomintang rhetoric and turbulent disagreements with the more Russian-styled second President of Taiwan.

The Collections of Wu Guozhen (吳國楨) presented and offered up to auctions
ON DAY-1: from Lot-97 through Lot-127, continued from Lot-219 through Lot-255.
ON DAY-2: from Lot-354 through Lot-377, continued from Lot-451 through Lot-480.


LOT NOTES:
Soong Mei-ling or Soong May-ling, Song Meiling (宋美齡; 1897-2003);Born: March 5, 1897-October 23, 2003; also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang, was a Chinese political figure who was First Lady of the Republic of China (ROC), the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek. Soong played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China and was the sister-in-law of Sun Yat-sen, the founder and the leader of the Republic of China. She was active in the civic life of her country and held many honorary and active positions, including chairman of Fu Jen Catholic University. During the Second Sino-Japanese War she rallied her people against the Japanese invasion and in 1942 conducted a speaking tour of the United States to gain support. She was also the youngest and the last surviving of the three Soong sisters, and the only first lady during World War II who lived into the 21st century. Soong spent the rest of her life in a Gracie Square apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan owned by her niece. An open house viewing of the estate drew many Taiwanese expatriates. When Madame Chiang was 103 years old, she had an exhibition of her Chinese paintings in New York. Her life extended into three centuries.