Chinese Ancestor Group Portrait with Family Insignia Badge

A large Chinese ancestor group portrait, late 19th century/…
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A large Chinese ancestor group portrait, late 19th century/ early 20th century Chinese ink and colour on paper 143 x 91 cm depicting a main patriarchal figure, possibly the father's elder brother, seated proudly at the head of the family group. He wears his fur-lined winter robe complete with the family insignia badge a symbol of the elite rank of a civil official and an indicator of literary elegance, atop his head is his official cap and finial. At either side there are two framed ancestor tribute plaques, known as commemorative tablets standing on an inlaid marble table., the female members of the family, in vermilion robes, with elaborate pearl and kingfisher feather headdresses, their hands modestly tucked away in their robes; the matching family insignia badge of the bird at their front., the male sitters dressed in fur-lined robes with official caps and finials. At the centre of the image there rests the main tribute plaque on a marble table with an inscription to the father's elder brother, mounted and framed, within the two other inscriptions, named among those being venerated and cherished are Qian Dehuo, pan Guohuo, Hong Tangfeng and Fang Wenyi. For similar works, please refer to: Christies, south Kensington, 28 April, 2015, lot 202; and Christies, south Kensington, 18 March, 2012, lot 64 catalogue note: china has a very long tradition of ancestor worship, and living family members would routinely perform rituals in order to honour their ancestors, sometimes asking for special favours or assistance from them, as they were considered to have the ability to influence the fortune of the living., the social aspect of the ritual was to cultivate family values, loyalty and lineage. Ancestral portraits were usually painted by anonymous artists in workshops and were designed to provide An important focal point for those rituals in the house., the portraits were considered objects of great value. A requisite to being portrayed was to have a high civil rank of government.

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  • Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.

    Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
  • Important - Important is a word used in the antique trade to indicate an object should be ranked above other similar objects, and is therefore more valuable.

    The object could be considered important because it is by a famous designer or maker, has been shown at a major exhibition, is of exquisite workmanship, is rare or is a "one-off", was made for an important patron, and so on.

    Even further up the pecking order are objects that are described in catalogue descriptions as highly important or extraordinarily important.

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