Wu ChangShuo (Chinese, 1844-1927), watercolor ink on paper laid to silk. A Chinese hand painting depicted branching of Lychee abundant. Showing themed title inscription on left, followed by artist's signatures and iron-red seal. Matted on creme-brown silk border.

The lychee was a symbol for love, beauty, well-being, and sensuality in ancient China. The syllables li-zhi (an alternative spelling/pronunciation of lychee) can also mean to produce money, and to have an heir (especially a son). Li is also a homonym for li, which means intelligent or clever (source).

Dimension: 89" H x 26.5"W; Inner painting Dim: 52"H x 16-1/8"W

Provenance:
Private collection of Mr. Chen YueQuan, born 1906. A Chinese Immigrant, Prominent businessman and private Asian antiques collector in South East Asia. Also well known as ‘Eyeglasses Old Man’. During 1950 he was one of the wealthiest family of the Chen's Clan. He supported the 5th renovation of Sam Poo Kong Temple Complex, the oldest Buddhist and Taoist Temple in Semarang, Indonesia. His relationship with local government including overseas ambassadors gave him a chance to receive and or collecting numerous precious arts and artifacts. During the Indonesian Revolution Riot in 1998 many Chinese fled the country, including some of Mr. Chen’s Family. They migrated overseas. Mr Chen passed away in early year of 2000.

The Sale Will Benefit IFGF Church of Atlanta

LOT NOTES:
Wu Changshuo (September 12, 1844 - November 29, 1927), born Wu Junqing, was a prominent painter, calligrapher and seal artist of the late Qing Period.

Wu was born into a scholarly family in Huzhou, Zhejiang. In his twenties, Wu moved to Jiangsu Province and settled down in Suzhou. Prior to the collapse of the Great Qing, he served as an imperial official in Liaoning.
Initially, he devoted himself to poetry and calligraphy with a strong interest in early scripts. He also led the Xiling Society of the Seal Art, an academic organization for Hangzhou-based seal artists. Only later did he consider himself a painter associated with the "Shanghai School." As a painter, he was noted for helping to rejuvenate the art of painting flowers and birds. He considered carving seals and doing paintings to be integrated to each other.

His work garnered him fame and was highly regarded in Japan.

Natural imperfection on the medium (paper or silk), regardless from any major damages; includes light blooms, discoloration and minor fading.

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