Pair of Chinese Couplet Scrolls (1922) by Famous Artist Mei Zhenying, (1843—1928

Description

As art, such scrolls are usually seen on the sides of doors leading to people's homes or as hanging scrolls in an interior. Although often called antithetical couplet, they can better be described as a written form of counterpoint.
According to a Chinese art expert who has viewed photos of these scrolls, noted calligraphist and artist Mei Zhenying authored this pair in the traditional year of
Renxu
(probably 1922) when he was 80 years old.
The scrolls are exquisitely calligraphed and decorated, and are in very fine condition. Each measures 16.75” in width and is approximately 69” in height.
We understand that Chinese couplets generally read vertically from top to the bottom, starting from the right piece first. This couplet reads:
Developing virtue and refining achievements as gentlemen personally practice
Reciting poems and reading books like making friends with the ancients
Mei Zhenying (1843—1928) is a Chinese Asian Modern & Contemporary painter, whose work has been offered at auction multiple times over recent years. According to the Mutual Art website, realized prices have ranged from ,109 USD to ,260 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork. Since 2007 the record price for this artist at auction is ,260 USD
for BAMBOO AND ROCK, sold at China Guardian Auctions, Beijing in 2014.
Our donor purchased these scrolls in Hong Kong in 1967.
Originating during the Five Dynasties, and flourishing during the Ming and Qing dynasties in particular, couplets have a history of more than a thousand years and remain an enduring aspect of Chinese culture.
A form of Chinese literature, the couplet varies in content and style, and can be both poetic and calligraphic art.
A couplet is a pair of lines of poetry which adhere to certain rules. The two lines have a one-to-one correspondence in their metrical length, and each pair of characters must have certain corresponding properties.
NOTE: Because 100% of the proceeds are going to a non-profit cause, no returns are accepted other than as provided in the eBay user agreement.