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Subject:Shenyang feather art 1910?
Posted By: NoelNoel Sun, Jul 07, 2013 IP: 76.28.103.38

This is a picture of Chinese feather art - I think from the Shenyang area of China. I've been trying to find out more about the art style and this picture. It’s made mostly of feathers and set in a 3 dimensional frame. It’s large - about 3 ft. by 5 ft. I've had it in my position since the early 50's and think the cyclical date (renzi) would correspond to 1910/12. I've done some preliminary translations of the wording on the side of the picture but can't put them together to get the artist's meaning. The four characters song(pine?), feng(maple?), hu(tiger?) and wei (not sure what that means - any suggestions?) should combine to make a meaningful phase. Any idea what it could be? I think the seal says something about Shenyang but not all of the characters seem to go together. Help there would also be appreciated. Most of the translations have come to me though others looking at the feather art and providing me with their thoughts. You comments would be appreciated.
Any sense on what it might be worth or other sources for more information would also be appreciated.







Subject:Re: Shenyang feather art 1910?
Posted By: rat Mon, Jul 08, 2013

I still think this is spring 1972 (the cyclical year is renzi, so if it's in the teens as you think it would be 1912). pristine condition, the seal reads I believe "shenyang zhi hua" "Paintings of/from Shenyang", the inscription you are misreading slightly: the "feng" character you are reading (correctly) as "maple" is meant instead to be the "feng" character meaning "wind" (in other words, what is left when you drop the "wood" radical from the left side). What results is the title "song feng hu wei", which means basically "the wind in the pines and the majesty of the tiger"

Subject:Re: Shenyang feather art 1910?
Posted By: Darren Sat, Jun 20, 2015

I have one does anyone can tell me anything about it



Subject:Re: Shenyang feather art 1910?
Posted By: rat Sun, Jun 21, 2015

Can you post a clearer photo of the inscriptions?

Subject:松風虎威
Posted By: Super Tue, Jul 09, 2013

Would you please post close-up pictures of the tiger and the pine tree. Also, were the seal and inscriptions done by embroidery (needle points)?

Thanks.

Subject:Re: 松風虎威
Posted By: NoelNoel Thu, Jul 11, 2013

The seal and the inscriptions are not needle point. They are in the same style as the other writings. I has posted a close up of the tiger. As we are away from home I have only a few pictures on my computer. I could provide more when we return in late Sept. I hope we can keep in touch. I alos included a picture of the mountain so the feathers are more visible.
As I've had the picture since the mid 50's I stick with the date posted(1912)





Subject:1912 or 1972? 沈陽作畫
Posted By: Super Thu, Jul 11, 2013

Congratulation on rat for doing a superb job in translating the title of the painting. It does take a native Chinese speaker to translate it.

The reason I wanted to see close up picture of your piece is not that I doubt your words saying you own this picture since early 50s, but based on its pristine condition and the quality of its calligraphy, I really have to agree with rat in that your picture appears to be more likely being made in 1972 than in 1912. No pun intended.

The four characters of the title:
松風虎威
song feng hu wei

While 松風 can indeed be translated as noise created when pine leaves were being blown by wind, in this case I believe it should be translated a bit differently.

Usually the two characters 威風 wei feng will be used together (威嚴的气概), in describing the appearance of a person who is so fierce and solemn that it demands the respect of others, like that of a general or a hero. A Chinese proverb 威風凜凜 is used for that purpose.

Also, the reason I believe both a pine tree and a tiger were depicted in the same picture is because pine tree is always known as the king of all trees in China. Pine possesses the character of a gentleman, who will stand tall in cold weather or hot weather, alone or among other trees, never wither or give in. Tiger is the king of all animals and its prowess demands respect and fear.

Therefore, in this case I sincerely believe the feng 風 character is used as in 風範 which means demeanor or bearing (of a person).

As a result I believe the title of the painting can be translated as "The Magnificence of the Pine Tree and the Majesty of the Tiger". I do like the translation of wei as majesty by rat. There was the first word came to my mind. Great job, rat! Please understand that I can be wrong in this case because there are really not that many references on this proverb 松風虎威. I can only find one other painting with this same title.

Again as to its age, it may appear to be either 1912 or 1972, and probably on January (first month) according to the scripts.

As to the seal scripts, the first thing came to my mind was the same as that of rat:

沈陽之畫
shenyang zhi hua

which can be translated as Pictures of Shenyang.

However, the seal script that was depicted as the third character (top character on left) in your picture is simply not that of 之 but rather it is that of 乍 zha. But if you put them together:
沈陽乍畫 really does not make any senses.

Therefore, in this case 乍 is actually a simplified 作 zuo (to create; to make) and the four scripts should be translated as:

沈陽作畫
shenyang zuo hua

In this case, 作畫 actually means 畫作 which means creative art work or art piece or even as picture.

Therefore, 沈陽作畫 can loosely be translated as Art Works of Shenyang.

Please note that the traditional Chinese for Shenyang is 瀋陽 but in simplified Chinese will be 沈阳. Traditional Chinese is 作畫 and simplified Chinese is 作画. Therefore your seal scripts seem to be half-half, half of them appear to be traditional Chinese and half simplified Chinese. However, since I am no experts in seal scripts, your piece could indeed be made in 1912. More researches on your part will be needed.

Hope this helps and please understand that since I am not a professional translator or a script expert, therefore my translation may not be 100% accurate.

Super




Subject:Re: 1912 or 1972? 沈陽作畫
Posted By: NoelNoel Fri, Jul 12, 2013

Yes, we've had it since the early 50's!! As I said it is large(around 4ft x 5ft) and is about 3 inches "thick". It has a glass cover and is rather well sealed. My brother bought it while he was living in Hong Kong and had it shipped back to the states when he returned. I'll talk to him and find out exactly when and where he got it.
I do appreciate the excellent information you both are providing and if it is 1912 any ideas on how I can get a sense of its value?

Subject:Re: 1912 or 1972? 沈陽作畫
Posted By: rat Sat, Jul 13, 2013

Thank you Super, for a super post! Your view on the meaning of 风 makes a lot of sense and I should have realized that a more abstract meaning was called for. Thanks also for correcting my mistake with 作. This version often appears on early bronzes I believe, and I mistakenly remembered it as 之

Subject:Re: 1912 or 1972? 沈陽作畫
Posted By: NoelNoel Wed, Jul 17, 2013

Thank you both for all of your help!! I sincerely appreciate the information both of you provided. I will continue to do research on the date my brother got the picture while he was in Hong Kong. If I get more accurate information, or have more questions, I will again post in the fall. Again thank you for all the excellent information you've provided!!

Subject:Re: Shenyang feather art 1910?
Posted By: Jennifer Thu, Mar 05, 2015

I have 4 pictures similar to this with the same frame and matting. One is feathers, one shells and one of cork. I'll have to check what the other one is made of. Have you been able to get a value on this?


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