Description: Ink and color on silk, mounted on fabric coated paper, brocade borders and scroll end-pieces
China, 17th century
At the lower end of this fine 17th century silk painting is a pair of quails with irises in the foreground. The central pat is taken up by a rock that is overgrown by peonies and in this area turquoise-blue dew drops are freely incorporated in the image. At the upper part a pair of magpies can be seen amidst a fruit-laden tree with red berries.
Signed on the left side with two artist seals. Backside bearing a collector seal and the inscription (= translated from German) ‘Lychee and birds, 17th century’ as well as other collector codes.
‘Two magpies’ is pronounced in the same way as ‘double happiness’ so a painting of two magpies was a metaphor for double happiness and was often given as a way of expressing congratulations particularly for a wedding. The quail is also a symbol for peace and harmony between generations living together.
Shape: Rectangular vertical shape
Dimensions: 215 x 55 cm (total size), 115 x 39,5 (size of the painting)
Condition: Painting with tears, creases, minor material loss, small holes as well as touch ups, mounting shows tears and creases as well
Provenance: Old Austrian Private collection, assembled in the 1930s to early 1950s
十七世紀《喜鵲鵪鶉》
絹本設色,紙本裝裱,錦緞邊緣
中國,十七世紀
在這幅十七世紀絹本設色畫下部可見一對鵪鶉。畫面正中是假山以及綠葉牡丹花叢。畫面上方是一株挂著紅色漿果的果樹,樹上栖息著一對喜鵲。
畫面左側有兩個藏家鈴印。背面有收藏印以及“荔枝鳥十七世紀”字樣以及其他藏家編碼。
“兩隻喜鵲”的發音方式與“雙喜”相同,所以這是特別為婚禮表達祝福的一種方式。 鵪鶉也是一家人和睦相處的象徵。
長方形,立軸
尺寸:215 x 55 cm (含裝裱), 115 x 39,5 cm (畫面)
品相與年代相符,有水跡、輕微材料缺失、裝裱部分有鬆散
奧地利私人老收藏,上世紀三十年代至五十年代間購入