Beschreibung:

A LARGE CHINESE ANCESTOR GROUP PORTRAIT, LATE 19TH CENTURY/ EARLY 20TH CENTURY Chinese ink and colour on paper 143 x 91cm 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.