A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE FIGURE OF WANG XI ZHI REPUBLIC PERIOD The calligrapher sits

A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE FIGURE OF WANG XI ZHI

REPUBLIC PERIOD

The calligrapher sits, wearing a long green robe with a dense floral pattern, his head turned towards a goose to his left side, the base with two four character seal marks, one reading Ruan Jin Kai zao, the other Fu Jian hui guan, together with a stand, 16.5cm. (2)

Wang Xi Zhi (303-361), a Chinese official from the Jin Dynasty (265-420) is one of the most celebrated calligraphers in Chinese history, and a master of many styles. Wang is also said to have reared geese and the legend has it, that he learned the technique of twisting his wrist whilst writing, from observing the birds turning their necks.