WANG XIZHI (321-379)

Details

WANG XIZHI (321-379)

17th-18th Century Rubbings of the Sigu Zhai Tie ("Inscriptions from Sigu Studio")

Two albums, ink rubbed on paper

The Sigu Zhai Tie include the Huangting Sutra in small standard script calligraphy (xiaokai shu) and the Lanting Preface in running script calligraphy (xing shu)

a. 17th century rubbing of the stones intact
Fourteen leaves, each leaf measures 10 x 5in. (25.5 x 12.5cm.)
Five collectors' seals, including three of Li Shizuo (1673-after 1747)
Fifteen colophons, including eleven by Li Shizuo and one each by Wang Shu (1668-1743), Wang Wenzhi (1730-1802) and Fei Nianci (1855-1905)
Label by Wang Wenzhi

b. 18th century rubbing of the stones after being broken
Six leaves, various sizes
Seven collectors' seals, including two of Song Baochun (1748-after 1817) and one of Lu Pei (1839-1902)
Two colophons, one each by Luo Zhenyu (1866-1940) and Shou Zhu (1884-1950) (2)

Lot Essay

The stones engraved with the Huangting Sutra and Lanting Preface from the Sigu Zhai were excavated during the Jiajing era (1522-1566) of the Ming dynasty. During the late Ming they were destroyed during looting raids by soldiers. The original stones only survive in broken pieces. Although the stele was recarved during the Ming, these two rubbings were made from the original carving.