WANG YACHEN (1894-1983) / CHEN WUJIU (1883-1948) / WU ZISHEN (1894-1972) / CHEN XIUYU (1858-1942)
Folding Fans
1. WANG YACHEN / CHEN WUJIU
Summer Pond / Five-character Poem in Running Script
Folding fan, ink and colour on paper / ink on paper
19 x 43.5 cm. (7 ¹⁄₂ x 17 ¹⁄₈ in.)
Summer Pond inscribed and signed by Wang Yachen, with two seals of the artist
Dated fifth month, renwu year (1942)
Five-character Poem in Running Script inscribed and signed by Chen Wujiu, with one seal of the artist
Both sides dedicated to Guanwu

NOTE:
He Guanwu, the original name is Shou, was an active collector and artist in Guangzhou during the early twentieth century. He participated in the Guihai Cooperative Painting Society (the predecessor of the Chinese Painting Research Society) in 1923.

2. WU ZISHEN / CHEN XIUYU
Plum Blossoms and Bamboo / Five-character Poems by Shaoyong in Running Script
Folding fan, ink on paper / ink on gold-flecked paper
19 x 46.5 cm. (7 ¹⁄₂ x 18 ¹⁄₄ in.)
Plum Blossoms and Bamboo inscribed and signed by Wu Zishen, with two seals of the artist
Dated fourth month, jimao year (1939)
Five-character Poems by Shaoyong in Running Script inscribed and signed by Chen Xiuyu, with two seals of the artist
Both sides dedicated to Ruixiang

Singaporean collector Mr. Tan Sin Liou (1922-1992) had familial ties to Fujian, China. His grandfather immigrated to Singapore, where he operated a palm tree business, later also became the owner of the Supreme House in the city’s commercial district. Apart from his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mr. Tan held a keen interest in traditional Chinese culture, as evidenced by his collection of Chinese calligraphy, paintings, and folding fans. Since the 1960s, numerous painters such as Zhao Shao’ang, Yang Shanshen, Guan Shanyue, Li Xiongcai, and Rong Shushi showcased their works in Singapore due to its proximity to China. Mr. Tan, recognized for his generosity and hospitality towards these artists, notably fostered a close relationship with Yang Shanshen. A portion of Mr. Tan’s collection (lot 635-637) will be presented in the "Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings" auction on 28 November 2024.