Pine, Bamboo and Rock / Calligraphy in Running Script

WU HUFAN (1894-1968)
Pine, Bamboo and Rock / Calligraphy in Running Script
Folding fan, ink and colour on paper / ink on paper
19 x 42.5 cm. (7 ¹⁄₂ x 16 ³⁄₄ in.)
Pine, Bamboo and Rock inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated spring, wuxu year (1958)
Calligraphy in Running Script inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated wuxu year (1958)
Fan rib carved by Shouping

NOTE:
The recipient was Yao Yuqin (1867-1961). Born Jingying and styled Yuyin, Yao was a renowned Chinese painter and connoisseur from Tingzhi, Yuhang, Zhejiang Province. He spent his childhood in his hometown of Tingzhi, later traveling extensively across the country amidst turbulent times before eventually settling in Shanghai. From a young age, Yao was deeply devoted to poetry and painting and later gained fame in Jiangnan for his orchid paintings. His work drew inspiration from artists of the Ming dynasty, tracing back to Yuan masters Zhao Mengfu and Zheng Suonan. His style was distinguished by its classical purity, graceful elegance, and a balanced harmony of strength and delicacy, embodying a rich literati spirit.

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.