Carved fan, blossoming roses and excerpt from the Commentary on the Water Classic

Bamboo frame carving by Jin Xiya Chinese

Painting by Pang Laichen Chinese

Calligrapher Calligraphy by Chu Deyi Chinese

1933 (bamboo carving); 1934 (fan calligraphy); 1935 (fan painting)

Not on view

This work captures a subtle sense of humor of Jin Xiya, the finest bamboo artist active in twentieth-century China. One of the outer ribs depicts a group of foods that ripen with the approach of summer. This subject, known as jianchun, literally, “a farewell meal to spring,” is a common literati theme. In addition to the normal seasonal vegetables and fruits of this season—bamboo shoots and cherries—the artist has inserted a pufferfish (hetun, fugu in Japanese). Consuming these fish can be lethal without professional preparation, but it is a famous delicacy in both China and Japan. The unconventional addition of this fish was undoubtedly intended as a playful surprise! Jin’s archive records that this folding fan was a gift to his teenage daughter, which may explain why such an amusing and personal design was selected.

According to the archival list of Jin’s works (fan frame #191), the bamboo carving of spider and bamboo was completed on November 5, 1933, and the carving of spring foods was completed on December 21, 1933.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

現代　金西厓刻扇骨、龐元濟繪薔薇、褚德彜節錄水經注　成扇
Title: Carved fan, blossoming roses and excerpt from the Commentary on the Water Classic
Artist: Bamboo frame carving by Jin Xiya (Chinese, 1890–1979)
Artist: Painting by Pang Laichen (Chinese, 1864–1949)
Calligrapher: Calligraphy by Chu Deyi (Chinese, 1871–1942)
Date: 1933 (bamboo carving); 1934 (fan calligraphy); 1935 (fan painting)
Culture: China
Medium: Folding fan; ink and color on paper with carved bamboo frame
Dimensions: 10 5/8 × 14 in. (27 × 35.6 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions Fund for Asian Art, 2020
Object Number: 2020.340
Rights and Reproduction: © Jin Xiya
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Wrist rest decorated with an ear of corn and ladybug, Jin Xiya Chinese, Bamboo carved in relief, China — Wrist rest decorated with an ear of corn and ladybug
Jin Xiya
1924

Wrist rest decorated with geese, sparrows, bamboo, and rock, Jin Xiya Chinese, Bamboo carved in relief, China — Wrist rest decorated with geese, sparrows, bamboo, and rock
Jin Xiya
1945

Wrist rest decorated with gourds, Jin Xiya Chinese, Bamboo with intaglio carving, China — Wrist rest decorated with gourds
Jin Xiya
1922

Wrist rest decorated with long beans, Jin Xiya Chinese, Bamboo with intaglio carving rubbed with ink, China — Wrist rest decorated with long beans
Jin Xiya
1925

Wrist rest decorated with landscape, Jin Xiya Chinese, Bamboo carved in relief, China — Wrist rest decorated with landscape
Jin Xiya
1923

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.