A PAIR OF FAMILLE-ROSE 'FIGURAL' PLAQUES BY WANG DAFAN REPUBLIC PERIOD, DATED DINGCHOU YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1937 |

both rectangular panels finely enameled, the first painted with a scholar accompanied by an attendant riding in a sampan cruising through a lake with blossoming lotus and overhanging willow trees in the foreground and water reeds in the background, accompanied by a related poem written by the Qing dynasty scholar official Wang Wenzhi, and followed by a signed and dated inscription and two artist seals reading Kun and Dafan; the second, painted with a scholar leisurely wandering in a bamboo groove and conversing with a monk dressed in a yellow robe, accompanied by a related poem written by the Tang dynasty poet Li She, followed by a signed and dated inscription and two further artist seals Kun and Dafan (2)

Acquired in China in 1958, and thence by descent.

One with minor chips along the reverse of the top edge, not effecting the image. Otherwise in overall good condition with minor wear.
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.

Remarkable for their soft colors and meticulous details, these splendid plaques demonstrate the impeccable virtuosity of Wang Dafan (1888-1961), a member of the prominent group of Jingdezhen ceramic artists, the Zhushan Bayou (Eight Friends of Zhushan). A native of Yixian, Anhui province, Wang went to Jingdezhen at the age of fifteen and studied under artist Wang Xiaotang (1885-1924), a master at painting figures of ladies in famille-rose enamels and vice-president of the Porcelain Painting Research Institute. By utilizing fluid, expressive brushstrokes with exquisite colors, as well as fusing elements from both traditional Chinese and Western paintings, Wang was able to create intricate and whimsical figures, which later became his personal style. Already a highly respected artist within China, his artistic mastery gained him further recognition internationally, when his piece Fugui Shoukao [Wealth, Honor and a Long Life] won a gold medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915.

Further famille-rose 'figural' plaques by Wang Dafan include a pair, one painted with Xi Shi and Fan Li, and the other painted with Hong Fu Nü, sold in these rooms, 12th September 2018, lot 384; one painted with promenading figures, included in the exhibition Brush and Clay. Chinese Porcelain of the Early 20th Century, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1990, cat. no. 68; two sold at Bonhams San Francisco, one painted with statesmen and female musicians, 25th June 2014, lot 6382, and a smaller second plaque illustrating Li Bo, 17th December 2013, lot 8354; and another example, painted with scholars, from the collection of the Hon. Andrew Li Kwok Nang, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st December 2010, lot 3279.