Title: Zhōuzhīmiǎn Huāhuì Cǎo Chóng Cè (Zhou Zhimian's Book of Flowers, Plants and Insects), Circa 1870-1920. A Chinese Painting Album with Eight Beautiful Silk Paintings of Floral Compositions and Various Insects, Ink Wash and Color
Author: After Zhou Zhimian; Unknown Artist
Condition: Very Good
A Late Qing to ROC Period, Late 19th to early 20th century painting album, entitled Zhōuzhīmiǎn Huāhuì Cǎo Chóng Cè, or Zhou Zhimian's Book of Flowers, Plants and Insects.
There are eight beautifully produced silk paintings providing different floral compositions and various insects, from buzzing bees to praying mantises, grasshoppers, and more, all produced in ink and wash and color.
As the title entails, this work is produced in the style of Ming Dynasty artist Zhou Zhimian, and copying the style of his Album of Flowers, Grasses and Insects, first produced in 1570, and now housed in the Liaoning Provincial Museum. His birth and death years are unknown, but he was born in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, and was known for excellent bird-and-flower paintings.
There is an artist seal, though I do not recognize it.
The album has been beautifully bound in a detailed brocade fabric, featuring landscape imagery and boating figures. This fabric is one that has been reproduced in recent decades as well, used for custom clothing orders and other products as well.
One silk painting album in orihon format (30.5 x 36 cm), 16 leaves
This album is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing or wear to the binding. There is minor staining and soiling to the paintings, and a few threads starting to come apart, but still holding to the boards they were laid down on.