Emperors of the Southern Song 12th to 13th century

Christie's Hong Kong, Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy, April 29, 2001, lot 318

-Overall in good condition except -Leaf A has a folding mark along the middle thus the restoration appears to be less visible than the illustration -Leaf C's actual silk color is much lighter -Leaf D's actual silk color is much lighter and restorations can be found, as seen in the illustration
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Collector's label inscriptions:
1. Treasured Collection of Brushwork from Four Imperial Hands of the Southern Song, a supreme treasure, rare in this world as a strange pearl. Private Collection of the Pan family at Haishan Hall.
2. Treasured Collection of Brushwork from Four Imperial Hands of the Southern Song, a treasured text of the Tianxiang Study, old Feng Nianxuan of Wu has written this at age seventy-four.

Frontispiece: Celestial calligraphy and marvelous traces of the imperial hand. Wang Ti.

Collector's inscriptions:
1.Collector's label: Song emperor Gaozong's imperial brush in seven character meter and grass script.
Artist's inscription: Who has used Tao Ling's (Tao Yuanming) yellow gold chrysanthemums and in their fantasies made fermented wine from his white jade flowers? The small herbs make for true flavor, and in the eastern garden I will tend to my later years.
With collector's inscription by Weng Fanggang on the topic of Liu Songnian's service to the Song court, with seven collector's seals, ming an guo wan, jian an yan fu, wu yuan hui li quan shi, fang er tong xin, chen ding, lin he cheng qi shou cang jin shi shu hua zhi yin, cheng shi bo fen.
2. Collector's label: Song emperor Xiaozong's imperial brush in seven character meter and standard script.
Artist's inscription: the cause of Celestial Emperor Qing's hardship was his feelings for the immortal Cao Xi. The Queen Mother granted him a single grain of cinnabar so that he alone might give eternal to his blossom.
Collector's inscription: this piece was meant to accompany a fan painting from the Song painting academy drawn from life. To the lower right inner edge there is a half-seal that can still be seen. (Weng Fanggang).
With four collector's seals, zeng cang pan an chu, wu yuan hui li quan shi, cheng qi si yin, ke an suo de ming xin jue pin.
3. Collector's label: Song emperor Guangzong's imperial brush in couplet form, running standard script.
Artist's inscription: A winter butterfly flutters along the luxuriant bank while waterfowl play in the sandy shoals.
Collector's inscription: this piece was meant to accompany a fan painting from the Song painting academy drawn from life. In the gap there is a two character seal 'yin shu' that can still be seen. From among the emperors of the Southern Song, this is by the hand of Song emperor Guangzong. The sixth month of the dingchou year (1817) by an old man of eighty-five years, Fanggang.
With one artist's seal, yu shu, and four collector's seals, pan jian an tu shu yin, wu yuan hui li quan shi, shuang song lou, cheng qi jian cang.
4.Collector's label: Song emperor Ningzong's imperial brush in couplet form, running script.
Artist's inscription: On a cloudy day the pines are bright with snow, a late breeze moves through the streams and mountains.
With three collector's inscriptions:

This piece has two imperial seals, 'yu shu zhi bao' to the left, and 'yimao' to the right in a gourd-shaped seal. Only emperors Gao, Xiao, and Ning had an 'yimao' year. (based on research) it must be from the first year of the Ningzong reign, making this undoubtedly from the brush of Ningzong. (Weng Fanggang);
On an autumn day in the twenty-fifth year of the Republic of China (1936) inscribed by Ye Gongchuo;
On Mid-autumn Festival (in 1996)Cheng Qi Bofen ...used an duan inkstone from quezhou and moistened old ink to record this.
With two artist's seals, yu shu zhi bao, yi mao, and fourteen collector's seals, han shui geng hui hou shu hua zhi zhang, geng jia zuo yin, qian shan geng xin gong shu hua zhi zhang, xin gong zhen shang, pan yan ling yin, yu yuan hui li quan shi, zhan si, liu hu shu hua zhi zhang, zhen zhang, dong ping, cheng ke an shu hua ji, ke an bi wan, qiu, yi mao.