ATTRIBUTED TO ZHU DERUN (MING DYNASTY)

EAGLE AND TIGER

A Chinese scroll painting, ink and colour on silk, signed Zemin Zhu Derun hua, inscribed, signed and dated Hongwu yuan nian, 193.5cm x 91cm.

Provenance: from the collection of Baron Eberhard Bodenhausen-Degener (1868-1918) of Schloss Neubeuern, Bavaria; by descent to Baroness Juli (Luli) Bodenhausen Degener, who married Baron Gottfried von Meyern Hohenberg; by descent to Baron Gottfried Eberhard von Meyern Hohenberg,

and thence by descent.

Baroness Juli Bodenhausen-Degener (1902-51) was a German-American actress also known under the name 'Luli Deste'. She grew up at Schloss Neubeuern, Bavaria. The castle was owned by her uncle, Jan von Wendelstadt (1856-1909), who was an avid art collector. He often invited her father, Baron Eberhard Bodenhausen-Degener (1868-1918), to stay with him at the castle. Under Jan, the Schloss also became a cultural centre with many German artists and intellectuals visiting him.

Jan brought back a large number of souvenirs from his trips to the East, including Chinese bronzes, Japanese screens, and porcelain. A massive pair of Chinese lion dogs were displayed in pride of place in the gardens of the castle.