Antique Chinese Tiger Paintings & Calligraphy Album Leaves – Set of Three
Antique Chinese Tiger Paintings & Calligraphy Album Leaves – Set of Three
Description
A fascinating group of three antique Chinese works on paper comprising two ink-and-color tiger landscape paintings and one calligraphic manuscript, presented as old album or book leaves.
The two paintings depict tigers within mountainous landscapes rendered in traditional Chinese ink and subtle color washes. Both retain Chinese calligraphic inscriptions and red artist’s seals.
Of particular interest is the historic English-language documentation preserved with the group. The accompanying typewritten material attributes the tiger paintings to a monk-painter identified in the older transliteration as “Priest Jan Kuo.” One surviving label specifically notes that two seals of Priest Jan Kuo appear following the inscription on one painting—the same pair of red seals visible on the work.
Another document, titled “The introduction to the pictures of tigers by Priest Jan Kuo,” discusses the painter’s approach to depicting tigers in different seasons and landscapes. It includes the cyclical date “Keng hsü” and an attribution to Ts’ai Lan-hsün of Shensi.
The historical attribution has not been independently authenticated, and the artist’s name has not yet been conclusively matched to its modern Chinese romanization. The original documentation is therefore included as part of the provenance of the group rather than presented as a confirmed artist attribution.
The works show substantial age, including toning, irregular edges, losses, creases and wear consistent with old paper. These characteristics contribute considerably to their visual character.
An unusual and evocative group for collectors of Chinese paintings, Asian art, calligraphy and tiger imagery.
Condition: Antique condition with considerable toning, edge losses, creasing and other age-related wear. Please examine photographs carefully. Framed under glass.
Dimensions: Approximately 21 × 31 in. framed each, based on the auction measurements. I would verify this measurement before publishing.