Calligraphy, Flower and Landscape Collection

ZHANG SHIZHAO (1881-1973) / MA WANLI (1904-1979) / XI GANG (1746-1803)
Calligraphy, Flower and Landscape Collection
1. ZHANG SHIZHAO
Seven-character Poem in Running Script
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
64.5 x 36 cm. (25 ³⁄₈ x 14 ¹⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated spring, dingyou year (1957)
Dedicated to Piji

2. MA WANLI
Peonies and Bees
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
94.4 x 34.4 cm. (37 ¹⁄₈ x 13 ¹⁄₂ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated winter, jiashen year (1944)
Dedicated to madam Yiyi

3. XI GANG
Autumn Scenery after Rain
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
103.4 x 31.1 cm. (40 ³⁄₄ x 12 ¹⁄₄ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated forth month, gengwu year (of Qianlong reign, 1750)

Liu Piji (1904-1976), styled Shoushi, was born in Jingjiang County, Jiangsu Province. He and his brother, Liu Jingji (1902-1997), were both well-known modern textile industrialists. In 1930, Liu Guojun founded the Da Cheng Textile Company, with Liu Piji serving as an inspector. In 1936, he became the director of the fourth factory of Da Cheng in Hankou. In 1948, he was elected as a member of the first Legislative committee. In May 1952, he returned from Shanghai to Hong Kong for business and engaged in real estate development in Kwun Tong. Besides his business ventures, influenced by his brother Liu Jingji, Liu Piji had a passion for art collecting. He had close relationships with famous painters and calligraphers from Shanghai and Suzhou areas, including Xie Zhiliu, Pan Boying, Zhang Shizhao, among others, and received a substantial number of art pieces as gifts.

Two additional works from this collection, acquired directly from the artist Xie Zhiliu (lots 675-676), will be presented in the "Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings" auction on 28 November 2024.