This is a paper folding fan with bamboo ribs, carved by Hua Yun (1908-1964 AD), a native of Yushan who loved fan-rib carving thus known as “Yuan painting and Yun carving” together with his brother Hua Yuan. One side of the fan panel features paintings of plum and orchid blossoms in color, while the other bamboo and chrysanthemums in color. The four plants reputed as the “Four Gentlemen” signifying noble characters have always been a favorite subject for both writers and painters in China.
Another creator of this fan is Wu Zhengming (1878-1949 AD), alias Daiqiu and Zihang, nicknamed Buddhist householder Baoxuan, Shulin Zhongzi, Chunhui Waishi, Lusi Wanren, Kuocang Tingzhang, etc., who was regarded as “Three Wus and One Feng” together with the other three artisans of this fan, namely, Wu Hufan, Wu Huayuan and Feng Chaoran, who were renowned landscape and flower painters during the Republican China era (1912-1949 AD) exerting influence both home and abroad.
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