Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries


Visitors' Forum

Asian Art  Forums - Detail List
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Chinese Inscription
Posted By: onjsko Mon, Apr 24, 2017 IP: 2a00:23c4:3a06:3200:

Hi, Can anyone help with the inscription on the base of this small (4 inches) chinese vase. I posted it once before, but didn't realise how big the pictures were. I've resized them and hope someone can help. Thank you.







Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: mikeoz Tue, Apr 25, 2017

Dated GuangXu XinMao year 光緒辛卯 (1891)Su Yun YuRen zhi San You Tu. 素雲遊人製三友圖. The three friends picture painted by the wanderer SuYun (simple cloud).

On the neck - Three friends picture - 三友圖

Above dog - Song Dou. 松豆. Song could mean relax, or a pine tree, or several other meanings, or could be a family name. Dou could mean a mung bean, or an ancient stem cup. I have no suggestion as to what this means.

Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: onjsko Wed, Apr 26, 2017

Mike, Thank you very much for your reply. I'm very grateful. Onj.

Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Apr 26, 2017

I can't read the red seals. However, the blue calligraphy on the base reads across from right to left, respectively in lines of one, three, four, three, and one characters, as 光緒辛卯索雲迸人製三友圖 (Guangxu Xinmao Suo Yun Bengren Zhi Sanyou Tu), translatable as "Picture of the Three Friends of Winter done the great personage Suo Yun during the Yinmao year (1891) of the Guangxu Reign". (NOTE: "Beng" has been translated here in its form as a superlative, though it also could be part of the artist's given name.)

In the middle photo, the three characters for "Three Friends (of winter) Picture" can be seen below the neck of the vase, and further down in a vertical stack are two that read down as 松豆 (Song Dou), literally "Pine Bean", but possibly meant in this context as "Pine Nut". My best guess as this might be the Pekingese dog's nickname.

I would further speculate that this vase was made especially for some happy occasion as a gift from the porcelain painter. I did a quick check of the name and found no immediate information regarding such a Guangxu era painter.

Best regards,

Bill H.


Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: onjsko Wed, Apr 26, 2017

Bill, Thank you very much for your help. You and Mike have given me much more than I could have hoped for. Onj

Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Apr 26, 2017

I have again been humbled by one of these translation exercises, but at least Mikeoz and I can seek consolation from each other and the Pekingese pup.

Apparently the mark was meant to be "Suyun Daoren" (素雲道人), "The White Cloud Daoist", also known as the eunuch Liu Chengyin (劉誠印 - died 1894), who served in the Palace during the heyday of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Following are some auction results for items bearing this mark or otherwise attributed to Liu, none that look like this vase, which I'd say may be difficult to attribute without more research into the mark and Liu's painting style.

Best regards,

Bill H.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/snuff-bottles-from-mary-george-bloch-collection-part-iv-hk0524/lot.4.html

www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/saturday-at-sothebys-n09666/lot.1549.html

http://www.e-yaji.com/auction/photo.php?photo=1837&exhibition=13

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/2563-nei-jing-tu/

https://doyle.com/auctions/16as01-asian-works-of-art/catalogue/165-chinese-blue-and-white-glazed-porcelain-snuff

Subject:Re: Chinese Inscription
Posted By: onjsko Fri, Apr 28, 2017

Bill, I'm so very grateful for your help. Thank you very much.

Onj.


Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |