LAI JIXI (1865-1937)

LOT 1639-1650
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF WU BALING

LAI JIXI (1865-1937)
Calligraphic Couplet
A pair of scrolls, mounted and framed, ink on paper
Each scroll measures 128 x 31 cm. (50 3/8 x 12 ¼ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dedicated to Baling

Specialist Note:
Wu Baling (1904-1976) was born in Nanhai, Guangdong. The founder of the Yung Sheh Hiking Club, he joined the Overseas Chinese Daily News in 1936 and was promoted to Chief Editor of the Hong Kong News section. During his tenure, he invited artists to inscribe on the covers of his publications, and befriended many Hong Kong artists, including Zhou Qianqiu (1910-2006), Zhou’s teacher Zhao Shao’ang (1905-1998) and others. Wu often joined their meetings and received many works from them.

In this collection, in addition to paintings by artists, there are also calligraphic works by famous Late Qing scholars and officials, such as Shang Yanliu (LOT 1647), Lai Jixi (LOT 1648), Cen Guangyue (LOT 1649), and Zhu Ruzhen (LOT 1650). All four artists are from Guangdong and participated in the civil service examinations. Lai obtained the jinshi degree in 1903 through civil service examination and moved to Hong Kong after the 1911 Revolution. He helped found the Chinese Department at the University of Hong Kong in 1927. Shang, Cen and Zhu were all participants of the final civil service examination held in 1904 before the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Zhu achieved second overall and Shang third overall. Cen and Zhu also moved to Hong Kong in the latter halves of their lives and worked as educators. Cen taught in secondary schools and Zhu joined the University of Hong Kong as a lecturer.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty and up to the present day, collectors has sought to collect calligraphic works by these scholars of the final examinations, A collection of four scholars from Guangdong dedicated to the same person is indeed rare to find.