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Rare Large Chinese Wood Printing Block of Giant. Qing browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Wood: Pre 1900: item # 867598 Please refer to our stock # b2099 when inquiring.
Brian Page Antiques Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom Tel: 01273 622152 Guest Book GBP 450.00 |
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| A Remarkable Chinese Wood Printing Block of a Famous Giant. Qing Dynasty 17 x 18 ins. (43.1 x 45.8 cms) This remarkable and almost certainly unique object, shows a real life giant who lived in Gansu Province, according to the characters at the top right. He is surrounded by people come to see the curiosity. At the bottom left is a Westerner in a top hat and carrying a cane. Note the vase with flowers and the bowl of fruit in the background. The refined cutting technique is more reminiscent of Japanese woodblocks which achieved a standard of excellence not often found in Chinese woodblock printing until the modern era. Presumably the giant was celebrated enough to warrant such a large and elaborate printing block to be commissioned. It is possible it was commissioned by the giant himself to gain some financial benefit from his popularity. The block is made in two parts, obviously due to the difficulty of obtaining a sufficiently large piece of suitable wood in one piece. The battens on the reverse are dovetailed into the block to bind the 2 halves together. Condition is very good. The wood has shrunk slightly and widened the gap between the 2 halves. As is to be expected there are some minor chips to the raised surface of the block. It does not appear to have had much use, maybe the giant's popularity waned and the demand for commemorative prints did not reached expectations. Judging by the Westerner's costume the date is probably the second half of the 19th. century. | ||||||
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