Lot 2744: DENG ERYA (1884-1954)

DENG ERYA (1884-1954)
Calligraphy
Inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist
Dedicated to Bingxian
Hanging scroll, ink on gold-flecked paper
125.2 x 31.4 cm. (49 1/4 x 12 3/8 in.)
20th Century
1

THE Family COLLECTION OF MR. HO CHINAM
A selection from Mr. Ho Chinam's collection of Chinese paintings received active support in Christie's Spring sale, which succeeded in raising the status of works from the Lingnan School. In addition to paintings by Gao Jianyu, Deng Fen, and Huang Junbi, this season also includes calligraphy by Yu Youren. Among these Lot 2743 was a couplet written in cursive script for Bingxian, whose son married Ho Chinam's daughter. This couplet has the same text as Lot 940 in the Spring sale. After Yu Youren moved to Guangzhou, he enjoyed a close relationship with Liu Houwu and Liang Bingxian. One day, while he was dining at Liang's house, Yu was surprised by the uniquely delicious pig's knuckle made by Liang's wife Wenfang. Hence, he wrote this couplet and presented it to Liang Bingxian. Liang's wife saw it and asked for another to keep as a souvenir, which led to the anecdote of "double inscriptions with one couplet".
Lingnan artist Deng Fen was a good friend of Liang Bingxian. They often had tea and great conversations together while living in Macau. Deng Fen once gifted a landscape painting by Huang Binhong to Liang. Lot 2748 is a picture of a specially painted arhat that was given as a gift for Bingxian's 60th birthday, and expresses the sentiment that Bingxian's longevity should equal that of the Buddha.