A SUPERB FAMILLE ROSE ‘KINGFISHER AND LOTUS’ PLAQUE, CHINA, STUDIO OF CHENG YITING (1895-1948)
程意亭(1895-1948) 粉彩《翠鳥荷花》瓷板畫

Superbly and delicately enameled with two kingfishers perched on a rock below a large wilting lotus leaf amid further leaves, a bud, and two blossoms, a stream in the background. With a lengthy inscription as well as the artist’s signature and seal.

Inscriptions: Upper left, signed ‘Zhushan Cheng Yiting, painted in Peigu-Zhai’ and inscribed ‘In the Spring in the style of Nansha Laoren [Jiang Tingxi, 1669-1732]’. Two seals of the artist, ‘Yiting’ and ‘Cheng yin’.

Provenance: Bonhams Knightsbridge, 3 November 2014, lot 478 (described as “After Cheng Yiting”, and together with another plaque), sold for GBP 3,125 or approx. EUR 4,400 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). A Swedish private collector, acquired from the above, and thence by descent.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, few light scratches. The hardwood frame with expected age cracks, nicks and losses, and traces of use.

Dimensions: Size 62 x 31 cm (excl. frame)

With a fine hardwood frame and brass fitting from the period. (2)

This masterfully painted plaque represents a new style pursued by porcelain artists upon the fall of the Qing dynasty. With imperial orders discontinued, craftsmen in the porcelain center of Jingdezhen were released from the constraints of the court and eagerly sought to develop new markets. In 1928, eight of the leading artists formed a group called Yueman hui (Full Moon Society), because they met to exchange ideas during the full moon. This group later became known as Zhushan Bayou (Eight friends of Zhushan), comprised of Cheng Yiting, Wang Qi, Deng Bishan, Wang Dafan, Wang Yeting, He Xuren, Bi Botao, Xu Zhongnan, and Tian Hexian.

Cheng Yiting (1895-1948), a native of Leping, Jiangxi province, began learning to paint on porcelain at the age of sixteen at the Jiangxi Ceramics School in Poyang. In 1925 he moved from Jiujiang to Jingdezhen and set up his own business before traveling to Shanghai in 1931 to study under the Zhe School artist, Cheng Zhang (1869-1938). It was during this period that his skills greatly improved and developed the exquisite bird and flower painting style for which he is most famous.

Jiang Tingxi (1669–1732) was a noted Chinese painter, and an editor of the 5020-volume encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng (Complete Collection of Ancient and Modern Writings and Charts), which was published in 1726 and had been compiled by Jiang and Chen Menglei during the reigns of the Kangxi and Yongzheng Emperors. As an official painter and grand secretary to the imperial court, Jiang used a wide variety of artistic styles and focused particularly on paintings of birds and flowers. He was also proficient in calligraphy and his works influenced several later painters. Apart from cultural activity, as a holder of the jinshi degree, Jiang performed important duties in the Qing government's Office of Military Finance, on par with Zhang Tingyu (headed by Yinxiang, the Yongzheng Emperor's brother). He was born in Changshu, Jiangsu. Besides the name Yangsun, he was also known by the pseudonym Nansha.

Literature comparison:
For an overview of the artists’ plaques depicting birds amongst lotus and chrysanthemum, see those from the Muwentang Collection published in Simon Kwan, Chinese Porcelain of the Republic Period, Hong Kong, 2008, nos. 44, 45, 47, 49, and 50. Compare also two related plaques which were included in the exhibition Brush and Clay. Chinese Porcelain of the Early 20th Century, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1990, cat. nos. 47 and 48.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Heritage Auctions, New York, 19 March 2019, lot 78195
Price: USD 81,250 or approx. EUR 86,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Chinese Enameled Porcelain Plaque, 20^th century, seal reading “Cheng Yiting”
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, style, enamels and manner of painting, most notably the similarly wilted leaves. Note the much smaller size (36.8 x 23.9 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 8 November 2012, lot 350
Price: GBP 79,250 or approx. EUR 116,250 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A famille rose rectangular plaque, Republic period, signed and sealed Cheng Yiting
Expert remark: Compare the related style, enamels and manner of painting with similar wilted leaves. Note the smaller size (39.5 x 26.7 cm).



程意亭(1895-1948) 粉彩《翠鳥荷花》瓷板畫
長條形邊框，框體雕飾花卉紋，畫心繪盛開的荷花、荷葉、翠鳥。粉紅的荷花、碧綠的荷葉下，一對翠鳥立於石上。一翠鳥聚精會神的凝視著水面，一翠鳥回首觀望，被他物所吸引。

款識：不妨翠鳥偷窺，為種荷花葉數莖。春仲撫南沙老人大意，翥山程意亭寫於佩古齋；鈴印：意亭，程印

來源：騎士橋邦翰思2014年11月 3日 lot 478 (描述爲程意亭風格，與其他幾件瓷板一起)，售價 GBP 3,125 或相當於 EUR 4,400 (根據通貨膨脹率)；瑞典私人收藏，購於上述拍賣，保存至今。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和燒製瑕疵，輕微劃痕。硬木框有年代裂縫、刻痕和缺損，有使用痕跡。

尺寸：62 x 31 厘米 (不含框)

同期硬木框與銅扣。(2)

這件瓷板畫代表了清朝滅亡後瓷器藝術家追求新風格的過程。景德鎮瓷器中心的工匠們擺脫了宮廷的束縛，急切地尋求開拓新市場。1928 年，八位重要藝術家建立了“月圓會”，這群人後來被稱為珠山八友，由王琦、王大凡、汪野亭、鄧碧珊、畢伯濤、何許人、程意亭、劉雨岑組成。

文獻比較：
程意亭的荷花菊花匾額概覽，來自Muwentang收藏，見關志明，《民國瓷器》，香港，2008年，編號44，45，47，49，和 50。比較展覽中的兩個相近牌匾，展覽於Brush 和 Clay，《Chinese Porcelain of the Early 20th Century》，香港藝術館，香港，1990年，圖錄編號47 和 48。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約海瑞得拍賣行，2019年3月19日，lot 78195
價格：USD 81,250（相當於今日EUR 86,000）
描述：二十世紀程意亭彩繪瓷板
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、琺瑯和繪畫風格，最值得注意的部分是，都有畫枯葉。請注意尺寸較小(36.8 x 23.9釐米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2012年11月8日，lot 350
價格：GBP 79,250（相當於今日EUR 116,250）
描述：民國粉彩花鳥圖瓷板「程意亭」款
專家評論：比較相近的琺瑯和繪畫風格，以及畫有相似的枯葉。請注意尺寸較小(39.5 x 26.7釐米)