Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Can anyone help me identify the pictured calligraphy artwork. It is Korean or Chinese calligraphy? And can anyone translate the calligraphy and identify the artist?

John

the central character is 壽, meaning longevity. this was probably a birthday present. it is dated gengshen year, therefore probably 1980 (the other option is 1920). my guess is Chinese, the artist is using a pen name I believe which will make him harder to track down unless someone recognizes the name. the ink used in his seal is of poor quality so I suspect this is not a well-known artist (who would have used higher quality seal paste).

Rat,

Thank you for your time and expertise. It is greatly appreciated. You stated the artist is using a pen name, were you able to determine the pen name? If so, may I ask the name please, so that I may do further research.

Thank you again.

John

P.S. I did liked your reply along with Snap and Super to the question "3 paintings not many answers on here anymore" posted by a "Billy". Its a shame people would abuse the time and expertise that you and everyone provide to this forum for the own financial gain and NOT for the knowledge of their collection or collecting.

Being a novice to all types of Asian art, this forum has and had provided me with much knowledge and insight to building my collection.

sure, I think it reads 松堂 (hall of pines) but am not entirely certain of the first character. I don't see enough evidence to rule this in or out as Korean though. Mikeoz may have a feeling based on the seal carving or calligraphy, as he is an expert in that department.


It's clear that many of the people posting here are primarily interested in information about the value of their artwork, usually to sell it. I am usually happy to help out where I can because I like the chance to see objects and paintings I haven't seen before. sometimes decent things pop up and I very much enjoy seeing and ideally talking about them with others who are interested and/or knowledgeable. other people lurk hoping to buy the decent things that are shown. it's just really annoying when owners seem solely interested in how much they can make in reselling their thrift shop finds and insistent despite their ignorance that they have a rare treasure. i'm as ignorant as anyone else about a whole host of things, but no one advances their cause here by presuming that they are entitled to a free education that puts money in their pocket as well.

Rat,

Thank you again for your time and expertise. It is greatly appreciated by myself and the many other who post on here for the love of the art (Like myself) and not for just profit.

Being a novice to all types of Asian art and having the love of Asian art, I am very meticulous and like to know as much as possible about what I am displaying in my house. There is nothing worse to me than displaying a piece of art and having no clue about the piece when asked and just as important to know myself. I have learned a lot from yourself, Bill H. and the many others on this site. I have purchased books that Bill H. has recommended to myself. I know I have a lot to learn. Now, if I could only read Chinese, Japanese and in this case Korean too. LOL

I hope Mikeoz happens to read this post to help me even further.

Thank you.

John

Excellent, I hope you continue to find new things you like as you learn!

Rat,

I finally opened the back of the frame to try and figure out what was causing the lines on the artwork (I thought it may have been folded before it was mounted) and why the seal seem to be bleeding/spreading. Apparently the wood that the frame is made of is causing the staining. I believe it may be the oils in the wood bleeding through the artwork. Now I need to figure out what's best to do to stop it from further deteriorating. Any suggestions?

John

John:

This is definitely Chinese.

On the right-hand side of your piece, there is a four-sentence poem with 7 characters in each sentence: (from right to left, top to bottom)

(1)问余何意栖碧山，
(2)笑而不答心自闲。
(3)桃花流水窅然去，
(4)别有天地非人间。

which was a poem written by the famous Tang dynasty poet, 李白 Li Bai and the title of the poem is 山中问答 which means "Questions and Responses in the mountain"

The poem can be roughly translated as:

(1)Somebody asked me (the poet) why I would live in the Bi Shan (Bi Mountain)*

(*Bi Shan is a mountain in the An Lu city, Hu Bei Province; at the foot of the mountain there was a cave called 桃花洞 Peach Bloosom Cave where Li Bai studied.) (Bi also meant green, like bi yu means dark green jade)

(2) I smiled without answering while I felt happy and content inside my heart;

(3)The peach blossom in the mountain flew along the running water (stream) until they disappeared;

(4)Here is like a paradise (桃花源 river source of peach blossom)which is like no place that can be found in our regular world.

Hope this helps. Enjoy.

Super
1/22/16

Super,

You have more than just helped. As I stated in my past reply, I am very meticulous in knowing the artwork that I have and display. And for you to use your time to translate the poem in such great depth for me, I am very grateful.

Your knowledge, time and expertise is greatly appreciated.

John

Hi, John:

You are very welcome. It was my pleasure. I was always amazed by the number of people who had posted tons of "cheap" works or partial pictures (like seals) of pieces they expected to sell for profit and expected people to do all the works for them without understanding some time the works and time that would require for us to do a decent job. Translating this poem took me about an hour because I had to really make sure I did attribute the poem correctly and translated it as accurately as I could. I was always impressed by the willingness of both Bill H and rat in readily helping even some of those people I had mentioned above and when rat got upset with that guy you mentioned, you know he had enough. Cheer. Super

Super,

May I ask if I can or if you can email me. I have a question I would like to ask you, in regards to my collection.

John

John: If you post your e-mail address here, I would e-mail you although I am not sure I can really help you. Thanks. Super

Super,

I was wondering if you and or if you knew anyone who would be willing to be paid a fee to help me with my collection and identifying the artists, translation, etc. if needed?

John

Hi, John:

Sorry for not replying you right away. Had been quite busy since the Chinese New Year is fast approaching.

I had translated a poem with characters written in cursive Chinese on a jade piece for a poster whom I met here previously for small fees that he paid with a Amazon gift card. I originally thought I could do the job in a few hours, ending up spending a few weeks in translating it, with results actually better than what he paid for a "professional" in New York and much cheaper. Although, I probably ended up making less than minimum wages, I got to meet a new friend and we had fun together. It was like solving a puzzle together.

Some of the translations are not easy, especially if they are art works with both seals and cursive letters and one has to identify the artist who might not be famous. May be you can post some of your collection here or at least let us know the extent of your collections. It may be possible that some other regular posters such as rat or Bill H may not mind doing it for whatever they believe are reasonable fees.

I may do a few if they look interesting and if I have time.

Super

Super,

I greatly appreciate the time and expertise that you, Bill H. and Rat and the others have provided me and the others for free.

I am very meticulous about my collection and also like the challenge of trying to solve something on my own. I have purchased books that have been recommended to me on this site. I have also spent hours cross-referencing artists to their seals in document form.

I will continue to post some of my collection (scrolls, porcelain and artwork) as I need help with identifying and if you are interested in a challenge for a reasonable fee, just let me know. Maybe we can come up with a price that will be fair for your time and expertise.

Thank you again.

Have a happy and safe Chinese New year.

John

let me know what you need, though Super is more culturally informed than I am and Bill H is a better researcher!

idio underscore tic at yahoo

Super,

I posted a message "Chinese Scroll Help and Translation Please" of a scroll I recently purchased. If you have the time to take a look at it, I would appreciate it.

Happy Chinese New Year.

John

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