Lot 236: A Framed Chinese Ink and Colour Painting of Birds and Flowers
A framed Chinese painting executed in ink and pigments on a pale ground, likely paper or fine silk. The composition depicts two birds with orange breasts and grey wings, with one captured mid-flight and the other perched upon a blossoming branch. The flora includes multiple white flowers with yellow centres and dark green leaves. The artwork follows a traditional asymmetrical arrangement. A vertical calligraphic inscription in black ink is located in the upper left corner. The first three characters are readable as 癸亥年 (Guihai nian), followed by 三秋 (san qiu), denoting the third month of autumn in a Guihai year (corresponding to 1923 or 1983 in the sexagenary cycle). The remaining characters indicating the artist and location are present but not clearly legible as a specific name. A single square red seal mark is applied below the inscription; the stylized characters within are not legible. The painting is mounted on a cream-coloured fabric mat with a woven floral pattern. It is housed behind glass in a black-finished decorative frame featuring a foliate relief border. Two adhesive labels are present on the upper right corner of the glass: an orange label printed with 236 and a white label printed with 17 (photo 1).
Condition report:
The painting is in generally good condition. The ground shows light, even toning consistent with age and several small, scattered spots of foxing, most notably in the upper right quadrant (photo 1). A large diagonal reflection is visible across the glass in the primary photograph. The frame is structurally sound with minor surface scuffing to the black finish.
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