Zhan Wang

Private Collection, Beijing

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate. Condition: This work is in very good condition. Upon close inspection there are a number of scattered very fine scratches to the work's surface, inherent to the artist's choice of medium and working process.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

 

Zhang Wang's acclaimed Ornamental Rocks were inspired by the Chinese interest in collecting rocks for religious or aesthetic purposes which have been traced back to the Han dynasty. Gonshi rocks were indeed appreciated for their dramatic shapes and often found in traditional Chinese gardens. "Especially prized are stones that have been sculpted naturally by processes of erosion or that appear to have been shaped by nature even if they have been artfully enhanced by man. Pitted, hollowed out, and perforated, such rocks, which are often displayed on end, are seen as embodiments of the dynamic transformational processes of nature. By the Tang dynasty (618-907), four principal aesthetic criteria- thinness, openness, perforations, and wrinkling-had been identified for judging scholars' rocks as well as the larger examples featured in gardens. Besides these formal qualities, rocks were also admired for their resemblance to mountains or caves, particularly the magical peaks and subterranean paradises believed to be inhabited by immortal beings. Some rocks were appreciated for their resemblance to animals, birds, human figures, or mythical creatures."

(From 'The World of Scholar's Rocks: Garden, Studios and Paintings' in Special Exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at http:www.metmuseum.org).