Lot 2039: THREE PORCELAIN PLATES WITH THE THREE FRIENDS OF THE WINTER.

THREE PORCELAIN PLATES WITH THE THREE FRIENDS OF THE WINTER.
China. Early 20th c. Liu Yucen (1904-1969), one of the Eight Friends of Zhushan.
Porcelain, painted in qianjiang cai. The plates represent a group of scenes, each one with a scholar in a long robe, with his servant standing beneath one of the three plants 'pine, bamboo and plum'. Every servant carries an object of the group of the Four Arts (qin, play of go, calligraphy and painting). With frame 80 x 24cm. Seals: a) Left below: Yin Bing Zhai, right below: Hui Mei Ge. b) Bottom right: Xieyang An Shu lin. c) Bottom right: Zhoulang Yixing. Condition A. Supplement: Wooden frame with suspension.

The three plants symbolize perseverance, endurance and elasticity. They are highly esteemed in Confucianism and represent the ideal image of a decent scholar.

Liu Yucen proves by the skilful design of the figures and the harmonic composition his outstanding painterly skill. In particular, the large-areas of blank background are characteristic of the literate style.