During the Republic of China period, the production of porcelain represented by Jingdezhen was still prosperous, and some unique new varieties appeared, such as light color porcelain and new pastel porcelain. In particular, the pastel porcelain created by Jingdezhen at that time represented by the "Eight Friends of Zhushan Mountain" introduced humanistic factors and creative personality into the craft painting porcelain, leaving a number of works with strong artistic personality and becoming a highlight of the Republic of China porcelain.
For example, Wang Qishan's freehand characters, Deng Bishan's pastel fish algae, Xu Zhongnan's proficiency in Songzhu, Tian Hexian's writing of plums, Wang Dafan's special pastel characters, Wang Yeting's special work in green landscapes, Cheng Yiting's good painting of landscapes and flowers, He Xuren's painting of snow landscapes, Bi Botao's good at feathered flowers, and Liu Yucen's grass worms are particularly unique.
Huayi International (Beijing) 2021 Spring Auction specially launched the "Centennial Fire - Famous Artists and Literati Porcelain of the Republic of China", selecting dozens of fine porcelain products from the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, covering "Eight Friends of Zhushan Mountain", "Palace Porcelain of the Republic of China" and major famous artists, witnessing the style of colored porcelain in the Republic of China period.
Wang Bu led the Eight Friends of Zhushan to draw exquisitely
In a "list of the best Jingdezhen ceramic arts and crafts artists in history", there is a rather legendary figure, some people evaluate him as a generation of people who step on the porcelain altar, some people call him a unique "blue and white king", some people respect him as a genius, he is a generation of porcelain painters in the history of porcelain making in the Republic of China - Wang Bu.
Wang Bu's blue and white flowers are a jewel in the Jingdezhen Ceramic Art Garden, and his works are unique in their concise brushwork, broad and profound, and clear and vivid artistic characteristics. Wang Bu has devoted his life to the research and practice of blue and white art, and has accumulated rich experience for decades, not only has profound artistic accomplishment and superb drawing skills, but also can be familiar with and master the performance of raw materials.
He "came up with new ideas in the law, and sent magic reasons beyond the boldness", created a new style of blue and white art, displayed the new style of blue and white painting, and formed his own distinctive blue and white art characteristics - pure elegance, simplicity, and qingxiong, so that he could walk alone in the modern century, and no one could follow in his footsteps.
Wang Bu's "Blue and Flower Reed Figure Porcelain Plate" picture as a whole is elegant, four birds are playing happily in the reeds, some of the wings are behind them, there is a spread of wings to fly, the spirit is vibrant, the bird is painted with a brush, the neck and abdomen fluff are fine and soft, delicate and exposed, rich in texture; the reeds are rich in layers, there is a sense of blowing wind; its composition is stable, the form is simple and far-reaching, the ink rhyme is thick, heavy, scorched, and light, and the lines show the condensation and composure of the pen, which means the sense of transcendence.
The overall picture is full of vitality and humanistic atmosphere, Wang Bu also conveys the idea of endless life, which can be described as "fine quality and good art beauty", the texture is warm as gelatin, the tone is fresh and elegant, and the exquisite painting makes people appreciate the charm of Wang Bu's blue and white porcelain painting, so that you can feel the reputation of Wang Bu's "blue and white king".
Inner House Treasures and SpecialTies Bring together colored porcelain for a hundred years
Another important lot in this special exhibition is Qing Guangxu's "Golden Pin Qing Pastel Hundred Birds Chao Feng Pattern Plate", this special Hundred Birds Chao Feng Plate is a collection of extremely high artistic value, historical value and documentary value of the special political environment, special historical figures, and special craft masters. This work is included in the article "Transcript of the Circulating Works of Jin Pinqing, a Painter of the Late Qing Dynasty Official Kiln" by Li Yu of the University of Science and Technology of China.
The center is decorated with pastel as an ornament, drawing phoenix patterns, and painting auspicious clouds in between, implying that the phoenix dances for nine days, which is extraordinary. In addition to the phoenix in the center of the plate, the inner wall of the plate is painted with a picture of 55 species of rare birds of 55 species, such as peacocks, cranes, hummingbirds, magpies, and embroidered eyes. This painting is based on the five generations of "Huang Jia Fugui" genre, "Huang Jia Fugui" refers to one of the two major genres of five generations of flower and bird painting, represented by Huang Xiao. Because the style of Huang Zheng was gorgeous, suitable for the rich atmosphere and decorative tastes of the court, this genre was deeply loved by the royal family.
The phoenix has been a symbol of women's highest power since ancient times, and the pattern of the hundred birds and the phoenix is deeply loved by Cixi. Secondly, the outer wall of the disc is full of turquoise green glaze, painted peonies, wisteria, and a painted eyebrow on the vine, and the painting style of the outer wall is the same as the style and system of the porcelain "Daya Zhai" porcelain exclusively used by Empress Dowager Cixi.
The outer wall is the most of the bean green ground black line double hook flowers, the multi-colored people are also painted, the painting of many peonies, xuanhua, hydrangea genus, bean green land, horizontal inscription 'Daya Zhai' three words, next to the 'Heaven and Earth Family Spring' seal, the bottom of the chapter has 'Yongqing Changchun' four words, there are also 'Daya Zhai' words at the bottom, although even in modern times and the value is also quite high. "So this large plate is a special product tailored for Cixi." Secondly, in addition to the phoenix in the center, this plate depicts a total of fifty-five rare birds, which should be burned by Guangxu for Cixi's fifty-five years old.
Between the shallow rare bird pictures in the center of the plate, there is a faint "Jin Pin Qing Painting" painting print. As a light color painter known for his shallow flowers and birds, Jin Pinqing can be said to be an insurmountable legendary master in the history of light color porcelain firing in the Tongguang period and even in contemporary Jingdezhen.
Among the hundred birds, in addition to Jin Pinqing's painting print, there is also a party "Cichen Clan Sunzhi", and "Cichen" is the number of Sun Tinglin, the inspector of the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Factory in the Tongguang Period. Sun Tinglin, as a ZTE and keeper of the Tongguang Guan kiln in the late Qing Dynasty, shouldered no less mission and achievements than the previous Shengqing Governor Tao Guan.
It is reported that at 13:00 on June 5, the centennial fire - the Republic of China famous artists and literati porcelain will appear at the 2021 spring auction of Huayi International (Beijing), and the performance is expected.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Wang Yan
Editor/Bow Lifang