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Text/Iris Zhang "To sew birds and blossoms onto petite squares of cloth, and to paint portraits on fragrant sachets, with craftsmanship so fine, setting it apart from distant realms." —From Songjiang Prefecture Chorography, Ming Dynasty Embroidery is a revered traditional Chinese craft rooted in the country's rich history. Its poetic essence sets it apart from the male-dominated world of Chinese painting. It is a poetic expression closely tied to ancient Chinese women, a continuous and enduring verse delicately imbued with warmth. This art form encapsulates patience and embraces tranquility and serenity while embodying resilience. In addition to renowned embroidery genres like Hunan Embroidery, Cantonese Embroidery, Sichuan Embroidery, and Suzhou Embroidery, which are celebrated for their regional influences and cultural diversity, this essay will focus on Gu Embroidery. Gu Embroidery, also known as "Lu Xiang Yuan Xiu" (露香园绣), traces its origins to the Gu family in Shanghai during the Ming Dynasty. Characterized by a distinct literati temperament, Gu Embroidery boasts high cultural and collectible value. Gu Embroidery was established by Miao, the concubine of Gu Huihai, son of Gu Mingshi, who achieved the status of a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty in Songjiang Prefecture. It is the only embroidery style that bears a family name. The granddaughter-in-law of Gu Mingshi, Han Ximeng, excelled in the techniques of embroidery and the use of color, significantly elevating the artistic essence of this embroidery style. Gu embroidery is often referred to as "painted embroidery" due to the fact that embroiderers meticulously replicate patterns from renowned paintings, particularly those by famous painters. Embroiderers employ ultra-fine silk threads and over ten complex stitching techniques. Additionally, Gu utilizes intermediate colors not found in traditional embroidery, allowing embroiderers to realistically depict the rich colors in natural scenes by blending medium shades to complement and layer colors. Playing with selecting and processing materials, applying stitching techniques, and coordinating embroidery colors enables their works to achieve the threefold realm of "resembling a painting, reflecting the craftsmanship of heaven, and capturing the hues of dye." This is a significant characteristic that distinguishes Gu from the typical decorative style of folk embroidery, imparting a sense of literati aesthetics while pursuing the expression of artistic connotations. Lot 679, A Chinese folding screen with four embroidered court scenes, 16th/17th century In our Winter 2023 Fine Chinese Art and Antiques auctions, Lot 679 stands out as a magnificent example of Gu embroidery—a set of four folding screens featuring embroidered court scenes dating back to the 16th/17th century. The subject matter is drawn from the Tang dynasty's "Yin Hua Lu," specifically the story of Fenyang King, Guo Ziyi's birthday, narrated by Zhao Lin. The scene portrays twenty-five characters of varying ages and genders, each depicted with lifelike precision, capturing subtle expressions that make them come to life. Detailed images of Lot 679, A Chinese folding screen with four embroidered court scenes, 16th/17th century The composition strictly adheres to the principles of literati painting, employing a simple and refined color palette that beautifully conveys the grace and sophistication of feminine aesthetics. Silk threads are expertly harnessed, utilizing techniques such as the wrapped stitch, joining stitch, rolling stitch, and diagonal stitch, among others. The key pigments in use encompass stone blue, stone green, and ochre. The attire worn by the figures begins with an initial application of the base color, followed by the intricate embroidery of textures. Facial features are embroidered before being painted, and for flowers and trees, only the outlines are emphasized, with all remaining details painted directly with a brush. As for the landscape, it is painted directly. This bold and innovative approach, seamlessly merging embroidery and painting, mutually enhances one another, bringing the characters to the forefront while vividly portraying the fluidity of the natural environment.

By Heather Herbstritt In 1368 A.D. the young soldier, Zhu Yuanzhang, soon to become Emperor, successfully invaded Beijing, ending decades of Yuan Mongolian rule with the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Spanning over 200 years, the dynasty was a period of artistic and cultural development centering around the rebirth of Chinese traditions in the wake of Mongolian and Manchu rulers. This inward focus on the revival of scholar-artists, court-defined styles, and painting, harkening back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), led to an era of artistic splendor. Often commended for their porcelain, Ming dynasty artisans were also celebrated for their masterful jadewares. Although a long celebrated material in Chinese culture, the dawn of the Ming dynasty marked an important social shift for jade craftsmen. In previous centuries, jade carvers experienced a relatively low social status, characterized by lower commission rates and often unsigned carvings. However, new developments in the court-art structure, notably artisans being granted greater artistic freedom, elevated the social status of these craftsmen. The new esteem associated with the position incentivized jade artisans, contributing to the exponential production of carvings in Ming dynasty China. In tandem with this was the appearance of individual jade carvers’ signatures and a drastic change in the subjects of jade carvings. The inward focus of the Ming dynasty directed artisans' eyes to themes of everyday people and life. While primarily serving courtly patrons, the dynasty’s later economic growth created a new market for jade collecting, further driving artistic production and development. Resulting from this increased demand, the splendor of Ming jadewares grew immensely. The techniques were further refined and the types of carved objects expanded: dishes and cups, scholarly items, jewelry, and small figurines being popular examples. Illustrating the diversity and quality of Ming jades are over 15 lots to be offered in Oakridge’s auction Chinese Jade & Ceramics - No Reserve to be held June 2, 2023. Comprising jade bi, beast-form carvings, and plaques the sale offers a collector the opportunity to expand their collection of finer jades. To a collector of courtly or jewelry arts, the auction features an array of carved jade necklaces; splendorous in both execution and condition. Works Cited Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Ming dynasty." Encyclopedia Britannica, April 8, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ming-dynasty-Chinese-history. Department of Asian Art. “Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/hd_ming.htm (October 2002). Hearn, Maxwell. Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987. Lawton, Thomas, Shen Fu, Glenn D. Lowry, Ann Yonemura, Milo C. Beach. “Jade” in Asian Art in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery The Inaugural Gift. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1987. Yu, Ming. Chinese Jade. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Autumn 2024 Chinese Art and Antiques ​ Session 1 - Chinese Jade, Ceramics and Works of Art - No Reserve ​ ​ September 13th, 9 am EDT Washington, D.C. Check Online Catalogue Catalog PDF. Download Live Auction | Sessi on 1 Chinese Jade, Ceramics and Works of Art - No Reserve September 13th, 2024 9 am EST Lot 1 - Lot 179 Catalog PDF. Download Live Auction | Sessi on 2 Chinese Jade, Ceramics and Works of Art September 14th, 2024 9 am EST Lot 201 - Lot 377 Catalog PDF. Download Live Auction | Session 3 ​​ Chinese Painting and Calligraphy​ September 15th, 2024 9 am EST Lot 401 - Lot 595 CONSIGN WITH OAKRIDGE Receive a complimentary auction evaluation from our specialists AUCTION ESTIMATES ADVI SORY WHY SELL WITH US? About Oakridge Oakridge offers free and confidential auction evaluations to help you determine what your object, collection, or estate is worth. We provide personalized auction services tailored to your timeline, location, and needs. We understand that selling at auction can be confusing and, at times, emotional. We are here to guide you through every step and ensure that the process is transparent, convenient, timely, and successful. ​ We provide industry-leading, museum-quality photography and cataloguing for each lot sold in our auctions. Our specialists have years of expertise in their fields and a wealth of industry contacts, curators, and consultants to help us ensure your pieces are academically researched, accurately priced, and beautifully presented in order to achieve maximum sale results. ARTICLES Oakridge Mar 8 A Pair of Chinese Ruby Red-Ground Famille Rose 'Figural' Jars Video photography by Iris Zhang 71 views 0 comments 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 Oakridge Oct 26, 2023 Gu Embroidery Text/Iris Zhang "To sew birds and blossoms onto petite squares of cloth, and to paint portraits on fragrant sachets, with craftsmanship... 138 views 0 comments 10 likes. Post not marked as liked 10

NEWS & STORIES Oakridge Mar 8 A Pair of Chinese Ruby Red-Ground Famille Rose 'Figural' Jars Video photography by Iris Zhang 71 views 0 comments 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 Oakridge Oct 26, 2023 Gu Embroidery Text/Iris Zhang "To sew birds and blossoms onto petite squares of cloth, and to paint portraits on fragrant sachets, with craftsmanship... 138 views 0 comments 10 likes. Post not marked as liked 10 Oakridge Sep 14, 2023 Appreciating Blue-and-White Shang Vases from the Late Qing Dynasty Text/Iris Zhang The Shang vase (赏瓶) is the pinnacle of Chinese porcelain art, with its origins dating back to the Yongzheng period, Qing... 128 views 0 comments 8 likes. Post not marked as liked 8

SPECIALTIES Knowledgeable specialists. Personalized service. Global reach. Strategically located near the international hub of Washington, D.C., Oakridge is an auction industry leader in Asian Arts with dedicated specialty departments in Chinese Works of Art; Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian Art; American & European Fine Art; American & European Furniture & Decorative Arts; Jewelry; and Silver & Objets de Vertu. ​ Oakridge offers approximately twenty auctions per year in the below categories, as well as dedicated single owner sales and occasional specialty sales in Wine & Spirits, Collectibles, and Books. UPCOMING AUCTIONS AUCTION RESULTS SPECIALTY DEPARTMENTS ASIAN ART A Chinese carved zisha vase 18th c entury Sold for $67,1 0 0 FURNITURE A Chinese Huanghuali Altar Table, 18th Century ​ ​ Sold for $86,800 FINE ART Maximilien Luce (French, 1858-1941) Figures in a Landscape Oil on canvas, 1908 Sold for $ 23,750 DECORATIVE ARTS A Royal Copenhagen "Flora Danica" six-piece dinner service for twelve ​ Sold for $28,1 25 JEWELRY, SILVER, & OBJETS DE VERTU A 3.55 carat brilliant-cut diamond solitaire 14K white gold ring ​ Sold for $10,370 TEXTILES A pair of framed Chinese silk panels with children playing, 18th century ​ Sold f or $47,120 TALK TO A REPRESENTATIVE Chang Liu Asian Arts Contact chang@oakridgeauctiongallery.com Savhanna Long Western Art Contact/Associate Cataloguer savhanna@oakridgeauctiongallery.com