Page 115 - Sotheby's Fine Chinese Art NYC September 2023

Kesi, silk tapestry, is a complex type of tabby weave used
緙絲，絲綢織品，織法繁複，成品色彩斑斕，精彩紛
for colorful images that flourished in Chinese culture. 呈，歷代佳品層出。緙絲織法通經斷緯，將彩絲穿梭
By discontinuing weft threads instead of letting them run the 於經線之間，緯線並不橫貫全幅，因而可按紋飾圖案
whole width of the fabric, colors could be woven in exactly 準確使用不同色彩。如此技術令織匠設計色彩自由度
where the design required. This technique provides the 極高，所織成圖案細緻入微如水墨畫作。
weaver enormous freedom in designing color decoration,
which made it possible to weave textile pictures as fine as ink 緙絲技術早在漢代就見於中亞，但僅限於毛織品。絲
paintings. 織品流行於唐朝，時至宋代，緙絲織工開始按仿緻水
The tapestry technique had been in use in Central Asia 墨畫，參考南宋作例，載於趙豐，《織綉珍品》，
since as early as the Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), but 香港，1999年，圖版00.24，頁34。
for woollen fabrics. Silk tapestry became popular in China 本品以歲寒三友傳統紋飾為主題，歲寒三友即松、
during the Tang dynasty (618-907) and by the Song dynasty
(960-1279), kesi weavers began to reproduce ink paintings, 竹、梅，除寓意高壽之外，亦像徵正直堅忍、高風亮
see a Southern Song (1127-1279) example, illustrated in 節等超群品格。
Zhao Feng, Zhi xiu zhen pin / Treasures in Silk, Hong Kong, 此副緻圖背附兩則水墨題款，表明此軸曾屬日本將
1999, pl. 00.24, p. 34. 軍本庄繁男爵（1876-1945年）收藏，當時正值日本
The subject of this panel is a very traditional theme, the 控制滿洲地區。第一首題詩提及本庄繁喜愛歲寒三
‘Three Friends of Winter’ (sui han san you). The Three 友，沈瑞麟（1874-1945年）署款，並蓋鈐印，年款
Friends, namely pine, bamboo and plum, all signify longevity 等同西歷 1935年，溥儀當時為滿洲國皇帝，沈瑞麟
and are symbolizing the qualities of steadfastness, integrity 任滿洲國要員。第二道題款署於同一年，署款者寶熙
and flexibility, and endurance in adversities, respectively.
（1871-1942年）亦於滿洲國擔任要員。寶熙與溥儀同
The tapestry is mounted on the back with two ink 姓愛新覺羅。題款評論此緙絲立軸，並稱該題款乃應
inscriptions. The inscriptions suggest that the tapestry 本庄繁邀請而撰。沈瑞麟及寶熙均以書法聞名，至今
belonged to Baron Honjō Shigeru (1876-1945), General of 書法作品仍受藏家珍重。
the Japanese army, while Manchuria was under Japanese
control. The first inscription contains a poem about the 比較一例，梅蘭菊花紋飾，載於《錦繡羅衣巧天工》
tapestry that mentions the General’s love of the ‘Three ，香港，1995年，編號12。另比一例，花鳥紋飾，
Friends of Winter’ motif, signed by and bearing the seals of 台北故宮博物院收藏，載於《故宮織綉選萃》，
Shen Ruilin (1874-1945), and is dated in accordance with 台北：1998年，圖版24。
1935, when Shen was a high official of the Manchukuo state,
under Pu Yi as Emperor. The second inscription, also dated
to 1935, is signed Baoxi (1871-1942), another high politician
at the Manchukuo regime, who – like Pu Yi – belonged to
the imperial Manchu Aisin Gioro clan. It also comments on
the tapestry and relates that the comment was written at
the invitation of Honjō Shigeru. Both Shen and Baoxi were
renowned for their calligraphy, and their works are still
collected in their own right.
Compare a related panel with a scene depicting plum
blossom, orchid and chrysanthemum, illustrated in Jinxiu luoyi
qiao tiangong / Heavens’ Embroidered Cloths. One Thousand
Years of Chinese Textiles, Hong Kong, 1995, cat. no. 12; also
a panel with a bird-and-flower scene in the National Palace
Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Gugong zhixiu xuancui /
Masterpieces of Chinese Silk Tapestry and Embroidery in the
National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998, pl. 24.
AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION OF CHINESE TEXTILES 227