Lot Essay
This beautifully carved jadeite dragon belt hook came from the collection of the Kwok Family. Kwok Zhongyi (1900-1994), also revered as his studio name Qin Yan Zhai (Studio of Qin and Inkstone), as inscribed on the wood box, is a distinguished art connoisseur from Jiangsu Shanghai during the Republic period.
Mr. Kwok cultivated a profound appreciation for calligraphy, painting, seals and scholar's objects. His close camaraderie with esteemed Shanghai artists like Wu Hufan, Xie Zhiliu, as well as notable figures including Zhang Daqian, Pu Ru, and the acclaimed Peking Opera performer Mei Lanfang, immensely enriched his artistic pursuits and appreciation.
Continuing the family legacy, Kwok's son, Kwok Chunpu (1938-2022), inherited and perpetuated Qin Yan Zhai’s artistic traditions and knowledge. Graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Kwok Chunpu was celebrated as a tenor singer. After relocating to Hong Kong, he actively immersed himself in the world of collecting of antiques and paintings.
Mr. Kwok cultivated a profound appreciation for calligraphy, painting, seals and scholar's objects. His close camaraderie with esteemed Shanghai artists like Wu Hufan, Xie Zhiliu, as well as notable figures including Zhang Daqian, Pu Ru, and the acclaimed Peking Opera performer Mei Lanfang, immensely enriched his artistic pursuits and appreciation.
Continuing the family legacy, Kwok's son, Kwok Chunpu (1938-2022), inherited and perpetuated Qin Yan Zhai’s artistic traditions and knowledge. Graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Kwok Chunpu was celebrated as a tenor singer. After relocating to Hong Kong, he actively immersed himself in the world of collecting of antiques and paintings.