South China or Northern Thailand, Yao people. Ink, watercolors, and gouache on paper. The eighteen paintings are accompanied by six smaller ceremonial paintings of deities, five portraits of Daoist immortals, and a long scroll featuring a procession at The Bridge of the Great Tao. (30)
The set comprising, 18 images depicting the three pure ones or Celestial Worthies (Daode Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, Yuanshi Tainzun), The Jade Emperor (Yuhuang), the Master of Saints (Seng Tsiu), two pairs of governors (Yang King and Sui Fo, Tin Fo and Tei Fo), celestial Master Tsiang and Lei, The administration (Heng Fei) featuring the hierarchy of Taoist deities, two constables, one of which is Tai Wai riding the white horse, two images of Hoi Fan on his snake, Marshal Tang, Marshal Chao, The Ten God Tribunals of Purgatory leading the souls over the bridge of No Choice, and the Forebearers with ancestors and deities.
Inscriptions: 22 of the paintings signed ‘Zhao Fa Qian’. One of the larger paintings further inscribed to the reverse, dated ‘In the twelfth year of the Xianfeng reign (year of Renxu), on the second day of the tenth lunar month (corresponding to 1862)’, ‘the reverent disciple Zhao Jinlin sincerely brought offerings to Pan Caixin in the Guangxi province, Si’en prefecture, Wu [X] county. For the splendidly colored deity images, the necessary matters were carried out in the full hall. A total of eighteen images were completed, using ink, at a cost of 7 liang and 9 qian of silver.’ With further good wishes for wealth and a good harvest. Another painting inscribed to the reverse with seven dates (1947, 1942, 1865, 1879, 1885, 1891, 1901) where silver lamps were offered to the altar by Zhao Fa, however the lines were written by different people.
Provenance: Manolo Santana, 1980s. Collection of Carlos Crua?as Dalmau, Barcelona, Spain, acquired from the above. Manolo Santana was a Thailand based art dealer, who was stationed in Vietnam during the war. After the war ended he decided to remain in Southeast Asia and made a living as an antiques dealer.
Condition: Good condition with some wear, creasing, small tears, losses, some repairs, small touchups, flaking of the pigments, browning, soiling, and water marks.
Dimensions: Size 101 x 46.5 cm (the set of 18 paintings), 22 x 344 cm (the longest), 22.5 x 15.5 cm (the five portraits), 41 x 22.5 cm (the six smaller mien paintings)
The set of eighteen images are depicted in the present order:
Expert’s note: The present set with two generals on horses indicates that it once belonged to a very important family, as usually there is just one general per set.
Yao ceremonial paintings, created primarily by the Mien/Yao people of southern China, northern Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, were commissioned by Yao priestly families to equip temples and domestic altars for major Daoist-influenced rituals. Produced by specialist painters—often members of the Yao community trained in ritual iconography—these works served as essential liturgical tools rather than mere decoration.
A full ritual set typically includes 17 to more than 100 individual paintings, depending on the lineage and regional tradition. Core sets feature the Three Pure Ones, the Jade Emperor, celestial generals, the Mother of the Big Dipper, the Three Officials, the Ten Kings of the Underworld, and portraits of ancestral masters. These scrolls functioned as a portable pantheon, enabling priests to summon divine protection, perform initiations, guide the dead, and maintain cosmic order during ceremonies.
Literature comparison:
Compare five ceremonial paintings featuring different divinities, Yao people, dated 1850s, in the Art Gallery NSW, accession numbers 266.2006, 267.2006, 268.2006, 269.2006, 275.2006.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 56
Price: NLG 4,095or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Six Chinese, Yao, paintings on paper, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related subject and colors. Note the size (130 x 48 cm) and that the lot comprises only six paintings.
| Galerie Zacke | |
| 地址: | Sterngasse 13, 1010 Vienna, Austria |
| 电话: | 0043-1-5320452 |
| 邮编: | 1070 |
| 向卖家提问 | |