Lot 8216: Zhou Bingyin (19th century)

A Tribute Lion Mounted for framing, ink and color on paper, inscribed above and dated Xianfeng wu nian yimao zhong dong (1855, mid-winter) and signed Hongjiu Zhou Bingyin with two artist's seals reading Zhou Bing (partial) and Hongjiu. 25 1/2 x 16 1/8in (64.8 x 42.9cm)

64.8 x 42.9cm

19th century

周柄寅 貢獅圖 設色紙本 鏡片 一八五五年作 The long inscription records the tribute of an exotic lion to the Kangxi imperial court in the year 1678 (Kangxi 17th year) from an emissary of a western kingdom. It further notes that a renowned painter of tiger-and-dragon paintings from the Qianlong era painted the tribute lion, which was often brought out in a cage at the conclusion of major banquets, as part of a 'Hundred Beasts' parade. The current lot is likely a close copy of the Qianlong era painting, as the 19th century artist Zhou Bingyin employed the word copy 摹 in his inscription.