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Cai JiangBai: Watercolors, Fine Art Auction
Listing ID#: 404674
Sale Location |
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Virignia Beach, VA 23455 |
Sale Dates and Times |
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Friday Jun 25, 2021 Completed |
Sale Type |
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Live with Online Auction (shipping available) VIEW ONLINE CATALOG |
Company Information |
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Blue Box Auction Gallery Contact: Jim Weigl Phone: 7575500285 Email: sold@blueboxauction.com Website: www.blueboxauction.com EstateSale.com ID#: 13741 View company information and listings |
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Auction Terms & Conditions Terms & Conditions:
PAYMENT AND BIDDER AGREEMENT The following, as amended from time to time, including by any posted notices or announcements during the sale, constitutes the entire terms and conditions, on which lots listed in the online catalog shall be offered for sale or sold by Blue Box Auction Gallery ("BBA"). PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY PRIOR TO BIDDING. Any BBA auction is conducted under these terms and conditions and applicable state, federal and local law. Any person participating or registering for an BBA auction agrees to be bound by and accepts these terms and conditions. BBA herein refers to and includes, the company, its representatives, officers, directors, stockholders, members, managers, employees, consultants, agents, and affiliates. Any announcements or corrections made during a specific auction supersede the terms of this Payment and Bidder Agreement for such auction. THIS AGREEMENT BINDS YOU TO ARBITRATION AND BY AGREEING TO THE TERMS HEREIN YOU FORGO YOUR RIGHT TO BRING ANY LAWSUIT AGAINST BBA. BIDDER SHOULD REVIEW THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY PRIOR TO BIDDING ON ANY LOTS. BY BIDDING, THE BIDDER AGREES TO BBA'S SHIPPING AND HANDLING POLICY AND ANY OTHER CHARGES, WHETHER KNOWN OR NOT TO BIDDER AT THE TIME OF BID. BIDDER FURTHER AGREES THAT NEITHER DELIVERY OF AN ITEM AFTER THE DATE DESIRED OR EXPECTED BY BIDDER OR LOSS OF AN ITEM BY A THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY ENTITY GIVES RISE TO A CAUSE FOR A CHARGEBACK CLAIM AND BIDDER SPECIFICALLY AGREES TO REFRAIN FROM THE FILING OF ANY SUCH CLAIM. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE: 1. All property is sold AS-IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS & no warranty other than clear title by deed. All property is being offered and sold in its As-Is/Where-Is condition at the time of the Auction with all faults, including any hidden defects of any nature. Neither Auctioneer nor Seller makes any representations, warranties, or guarantees whatsoever, express or implied, regarding the nature, value, source, authenticity, fitness, merchantability, and/or any other aspect or characteristics of such property. No statement anywhere, whether express or implied, including verbal statements made by Auctioneer, will be deemed a warranty or representation by Auctioneer or Seller without limiting the generality of the foregoing. There are no warranties of title, non-infringement, authenticity, origin, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, all of which are expressly disclaimed. Each Bidder acknowledges and agrees that such Bidder cannot rely, and has not relied, on any representation, warranty or guaranty made by the Seller or anyone acting as Agent of the Seller, orally or in writing, about the property, or any of it. By Bidding, each Bidder acknowledges and agrees that such Bidder has had a full and fair opportunity to inspect the property and is relying solely on, or has waived, such Bidder's inspection and investigation (i) in determining whether to bid, (ii) in determining the amount of a bid, (iii) in bidding. Descriptions are provided as a service to customers only and do not constitute a warranty, either expressed or implied. Auctioneer disclaims all responsibility for physical location. All buyers are responsible for prior inspection of properties on which they bid, and by bidding are deemed to have so inspected the property. By placing a bid, in any capacity, you signify that you have examined the items as fully as you desire and have had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from BBA that you deem adequate. If you require absolute certainty in all areas of authenticity, and the results of your evaluation leave uncertainty in your mind, do not bid on the lot in question. We are not affiliated with any government entity and not all of the items sold were seized. Items sold by us are sourced from multiple channels and there are no assurances that any of the items being sold have been seized. 2. Neither BBA nor the consignor, as applicable, make any warranties or representations of any kind or nature with respect to property or its value. In no event shall BBA be responsible for the correctness of description, genuineness, attribution, provenance, authenticity, authorship, and completeness, condition of property or estimate of value. Any appraisals, Estimates (as defined herein) or evaluations provided are solely for the convenience of the Bidder and BBA makes no warranties of any kind relating to them. Appraisals may include valuations which reflect the full, highest retail price of the item in a specific geographic region. The terms Estimate or Estimated Value or similar intended language (collectively "Estimate") as used herein may be an arbitrary value and may fail to represent an actual resale value, insurance replacement value, or cost of a similar good. Similarly, no appraisal value should be considered to represent the actual resale value, insurance replacement value, or cost of a similar good. No statement (oral or written) shall be deemed such a warranty or representation, or any assumption of responsibility. In no circumstance will a vastly different appraisal or estimate of any third-party given on behalf of a purchaser in an BBA auction be grounds for a return, cancellation, or refund. All measurements given are approximate and within industry standards and customs. 3. In no event shall BBA's liability for any breach, or act or omission exceed the Purchase Price (as defined herein) actually paid by the buyer. In no event shall BBA have any liability under any circumstances for special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages (including for loss of profits or revenue, costs of obtaining alternative property, claims of customers of buyer or otherwise), whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise, arising out of, resulting from or in any way relating to the lot or its purchase, sale, delivery or non-delivery, or the acts or omissions of BBA. 4. All bidders are required to give full identification and register to receive a bidder number upon arrival at auction site, or online before bidding. A Bidder's Deposit may be required at the time of registration to receive a Bidder Number. The Bidder Deposit of the Winning Bidder shall be applied to the payment due and all other non-winning Bidders shall have their Bidder Deposit returned after the close of the Auction. For all online auctions, all bidders are required to provide credit card information at the time of registration. Successful online bidders will be charged for total amount of invoice upon completion of the auction. Receipt of a bidder number online or on site, upon completed registration, implies an understanding of the legal obligation of all BBA auction terms and conditions. Each Registered Bidder is responsible for the Bidder Number issued to such Registered Bidder. Auctioneer is not responsible for monitoring or policing the use of Bidder Numbers, and each Registered Bidder is responsible for all bids made on the Bidder Number issued to such Registered Bidder even if the Registered Bidder claims that the Bidder Number was lost, stolen, or misappropriated, unless notice of a lost, stolen, or misappropriated Bidder Number was provided to Auctioneer prior to an unauthorized bid being made. Absent a clerical error, Auctioneers recording of bids against a Bidder Number will be conclusive. 5. The successful bidder, sometime referred to as the winning bidder, is the highest bidder acknowledged by BBA. In the event of any dispute between bidders, or in the event of doubt on BBA's part as to the validity of any bid, then BBA will have the final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to re-offer and resell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, BBA's sale record is conclusive. While BBA makes every effort to guarantee accuracy, in the event of a mistake on the part of auctioneer, and a lot is accidentally declared sold by mistake of the auctioneer, BBA reserves the right to cancel the sale and relist the lot in its sole discretion. Bids may be received by BBA through the internet, telephone, facsimile, or e-mail. Bidding through a telephone, facsimile, or e-mail, are only available to pre-qualified dealers or resellers. 6. The bidder assumes full responsibility for items when the auctioneer so announces by the fall of the hammer or in other customary manner (or expiration of time in an online auction). A bid entered by mistake on the part of a bidder is NOT grounds for a cancellation of the bid. Each bidder is responsible for his or her own account and bids. By allowing access to another who enters a bid without your knowledge will NOT be grounds for a rescission of the bid(s). Therefore, any bid made on your account will bind you to the bid in accordance with these terms. If an entity places a bid on a lot, then the person executing such bid on behalf of the entity hereby agrees to personally guarantee payment for any successful bid. 7. All bids are subject to (i) a non-refundable buyer's premium, which shall be added to a successfully placed bid upon sale of each lot, (ii) the non-refundable buyer's premium for BBA is calculated before any taxes and is 20% of the total hammer price and will be added the buyer's invoice (iii) any applicable local sales tax, and (iv) shipping and handling costs that are more fully described in the section entitled "Shipping and Handling" below (collectively, the "Purchase Price"). Any bidder that represents a purchaser is personally and individually responsible for any obligations of the purchaser set forth in these terms and conditions. All purchasers purchasing pursuant to a valid resale license will need to provide appropriate documentation for removal of state sales tax. 8. Bidder's bid at all times represents an irrevocable offer by bidder to enter into a binding contract to purchase the lot in accordance with the specific provisions of the listing and these general terms and conditions, as applicable, even if a higher bid was received by BBA. In the event that any reserve price of a lot is not exceeded by any bidder's bid, BBA, in its sole discretion, with or without the knowledge of or notice to any bidder, may reduce any reserve price to an amount below the bid of bidder at any time during an auction and accept the bid made by bidder. Reserve prices are always the confidential information of BBA and are not disclosed to bidders unless specifically stated as such during bidding. Nothing contained in any listing shall be construed to disclose any reserve price. In the placing of any bid the bidder understands and agrees that the bid, once accepted by BBA, will be the winning bid if there is no higher bid by another bidder and if any reserve or reduced reserve on the lot is exceeded by the bid. All bids are binding, irrevocable and non-cancelable by bidder. BBA has final discretion on sale of a lot. The decisions of BBA are final. In the unlikely event that we lose our internet connection, or similar unexpected event takes place, BBA reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to cancel the remainder of the auction, in whole or part. 9. Pre-Auction Bids, if applicable, shall be allowed prior to the Auction day, up until the determined time allowed. All Bidders electing to submit a Pre-Auction Bid must register and abide by the same Terms and Conditions for Auction day. Pre-Auction Bids will be presented to the Seller for their review and consideration. Seller shall have the right to accept the Pre-Auction Bid and cancel the live auction. Agent and/or Seller shall also have the right to accept, reject or open live auction with Pre-Auction Bid, at their discretion. Agent and/or Seller shall also have the right to disclose the high Pre-Auction Bid to other registered Bidders who will have an option to submit a PreAuction Bid only if the new Pre-Auction Bid is at least ten percent (15%) greater than the current bid. 10. Auctioneer will not be responsible for technology disruptions, errors, or failures (including disruptions to bidding or the failure to execute, recognize, or record online bids), whether caused by (i) loss of connectivity, breakdown, disruption, or failure of the Online Auction Platform, (ii) breakdown, disruption, or failure of a Bidder's internet connection, computer, or system, or (iii) otherwise. Auctioneer may, but will not be required to, continue, suspend, delay, extend, reschedule, or close the Auction because of disruptions caused by technology failures, even after bidding has commenced. 11. Auctioneer may use an Online Auction Platform Provider to facilitate the Auction. Under no circumstances will Auctioneer be liable for any failure of the Online Auction Platform Provider to perform all or any of its obligations, or for the failure of any affiliates, employees, agents, representatives, or contractors of the Online Auction Platform Provider to perform their obligations. 12. PAYMENT: Live Auction - Upon the close of the Auction, the winning Bidder shall be required to pay in full for all accepted offers or won lots. The invoice will include a buyer's premium and that is known as the realized or actual purchase price. (Winning Bid Amount + Buyers Premium = Purchase Price). Bidder's deposit, if applicable, can be applied to the purchase deposit. All payments shall be in the form of cash, credit card, wire transfer (TT), certified or cashier's check. Invoices over $1,000 will require a wire transfer. The balance of the Purchase Price shall be due at the close of the auction. Online Auction - All bidders must register for online auctions with a credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We do not accept PayPal payments. For items purchased online, a stated percent fee, or Buyer's Premium, shall be required and you will be emailed an invoice after the auction and full amount of invoice will be charged to the credit card provided at the time of registration. Payments made in person can be in the form of cash, Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express and cashier's check. BBA reserves the right to hold all purchases until full payment has been made to the satisfaction of BBA. If we are prevented by fire, theft, or any other reason whatsoever from delivering any property to the purchaser, our liability shall be limited to the sum actually paid, by the purchaser for such property. IF IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION BBA AGREES TO REFUND A PURCHASE YOU WILL BE CHARGED A 15% RESTOCKING FEE OF THE HAMMER PRICE AND YOU WILL STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING AND HANDLING FEES AS WELL AS RETURN SHIPPING. THE PREVIOUSLY PAID BUYER'S PREMIUM IS NOT REFUNDABLE. PLEASE BID RESPONSIBLY AND DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE PRIOR TO PLACING A BID. 13. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES: IN THE EVENT THAT YOU BID AND ARE DEEMED THE WINNER OF AN ITEM BY BBA, BUT FAIL TO MAKE PAYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INVOICE SENT TO YOU OR CLAIM A DISPUTE WITH ANY THIRD-PARTY PAYMENT INTERMEDIARY, SUCH AS A CREDIT CARD COMPANY, YOU WILL BE ASSESSED A CHARGE OF 15% OF THE HAMMER PRICE AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. BY BIDDING ON ANY SUCH LOT, YOU HEREBY AGREE TO THE PAYMENT OF SUCH LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THE IRREPARABLE HARM THAT WILL BE SUSTAINED BY BBA. FURTHERMORE, IN THE EVENT THAT A WINNING BIDDER FAILS TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS UNDER THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES DESCRIBED HEREIN, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REPORT SUCH NONPAYMENT TO CREDIT AND COLLECTION AGENCIES IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION. 14. BBA reserves the right to reject any bid at any time and at his sole discretion. BBA additionally reserves the right in its sole and unlimited discretion at any time prior to, during, or even after the close of the auction to exclude any person or individual bid and to award any lot to the highest accepted bid. BBA reserves the right to withdraw any lot at any time before, during, or after the auction without liability. BBA reserves the right to delay, change or extend an auction without liability. 15. On the fall of the hammer or in other customary manner (or expiration of time in an online auction), ownership of the offered lot will pass to the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer, subject to fulfillment by such bidder, of all the conditions set forth herein, and such bidder thereupon, a) assumes full risk and responsibility thereof, but not limited to, insurance, fire, theft, removal and storage or damage from any and all causes, and b) will pay the full Purchase Price thereof or such part as we may require. In addition to other remedies available to us by law, we reserve the right to impose a late charge of 2.5% per month of the total Purchase Price if payment is not made in accordance with the conditions set forth herein. If any applicable conditions herein are not complied with by the purchaser, in addition to other remedies available to us and the consignor by law, including, without limitation, the right to hold the purchaser liable for the total Purchase Price, we at our option may, a) cancel the sale, retaining all payments made by the purchaser, b) resell the property at public auction with or without reserve, and the purchaser will be liable for any deficiency costs including handling charges, the expenses of both sales, our commissions on both sales at our regular rates, reasonable attorney's fees, incidental damages, and all other charges due hereunder, c) reject future bids from the buyer or render such bids subject to payment of a deposit, d) charge interest at 30% per annum from the date payment became due until the date the Purchase Price is received in cleared funds, e) subject to notification of the buyer, exercise a lien over any of the buyer's property which is in the possession of BBA and no earlier than 30 days from the date of such notice, arrange the sale of such property and apply the proceeds to the amount owed to BBA or any of our affiliated companies after the deduction from sale proceeds of our standard commission rates and sale-related expenses, f) commence legal proceedings to recover the Purchase Price, together with interest and the costs of such proceedings, g) set off the outstanding amount remaining unpaid by the buyer against any amounts which BBA, or our affiliated companies, may owe the buyer in any other transactions, or h) take such other action as we deem necessary or appropriate. In the event that such a buyer pays a portion of the Purchase Price for any or all lots purchased, BBA shall apply the payment received to such lot or lots that BBA, in its sole discretion deems appropriate. In the case of default, purchaser shall be liable for legal fees, costs and expenses associated with an attempted collection of payment from purchaser. In addition, a defaulting purchaser will be deemed to have granted us a security interest in, and we may retain as collateral security for such purchaser's obligations to us, any property in our possession, owned by such purchaser. Furthermore, in the event that a purchaser fails to make any payments under these terms and conditions, a 15% charge as liquidated damages will be administered as described in Section 10. We hereby reserve the right to report such non-payment to credit and collection agencies in our sole discretion. 16. BBA, and any consignors, reserve the right to bid on any lot(s). Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all lots are subject to a reserve price that shall be hidden from all bidders. BBA shall act to protect the reserve by bidding in the auction process if needed. BBA may open bidding on any lot below the reserve by placing its own bid. BBA may continue to bid on behalf of itself up to the amount of the reserve, either by placing consecutive bids or by placing bids in response to other bidders. 17. If any dispute occurs between a bidder and BBA that cannot be resolved, then the parties agree to the rules, regulations and procedures of the dispute resolution described herein and agree to the following procedures for resolution of the dispute: If either party alleges that the other party is in default under this agreement, then the dispute or allegation shall be submitted to binding arbitration in the Commonwealth of Virginia. BBA shall select a neutral arbitrator. The arbitration process shall be initiated by either party requesting arbitration which must be served upon the other party by certified mail. Failure to participate in the arbitration is a default. In the event that an arbitration procedure is initiated by request of a bidder, the bidder shall bear the financial burden of fees to be paid to an arbitrator to that maximum amount available by law. Each party shall simply present their case (limited to a maximum of one hour for each party) to the arbitrator. By bidding on any lot, the bidder hereby agrees and acknowledges that it is completely waiving its rights to have the dispute heard in a court of law. The bidder agrees that the arbitrator shall have complete jurisdiction over the dispute and can issue an award to the prevailing party. Arbitration fees shall be paid by the party not prevailing in the dispute or as seen fit by the arbitrator. Any award determined by the arbitrator shall be binding and the prevailing party shall be awarded full reimbursement of its actual paid fees in connection with the dispute. By participating in an BBA auction, bidder specifically agrees to the dispute resolution specified in the foregoing paragraph as bidder's SOLE means to resolve any and all disputes which may arise with BBA. By doing so bidder specifically agrees that bidder will not file a dispute of any kind with an online venue, a credit card, or any other third-parties. Bidder specifically waives the right to initiating a credit card chargeback dispute on any basis of claim and agrees that bidder will pay BBA a minimum of $300 plus hourly charges and costs for any such chargeback dispute opened, due to the severe administrative burden of such disputes and their direct violation of the dispute provisions above. In the event that Bidder violates this dispute resolution provisions, in consideration of BBA's approval of the application of the bidder to bid in BBA's auction, bidder confesses judgment to fraud having been committed by bidder against BBA and further agrees that bidder is liable to BBA for all damages, losses and costs, including time charges, resulting. 18. The bidder hereby waives, releases, remises, acquits, and forever discharges BBA and any consignor, and shall indemnify and hold them harmless against any claims, actions, cause of action, demands, rights, damages, costs, expenses, or compensation whatsoever, direct or indirect, known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, which the bidder now has or which may arise in the future on the account of or in any way growing out of or connected with any defects, latent or otherwise, or the physical condition of any items or lots purchased or any law or regulation applicable thereto. BBA or consignor shall provide notice to bidder promptly of any such claim, suit, or proceeding 19. If any provision of these terms and conditions or of any listing be void, unlawful or unenforceable under applicable law, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent possible to comply with applicable law, or if modification is not possible, deleted and severed from the remaining provisions. Any such modification, deletion or severing shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any of the remaining provisions. 20. Removal, Pick-up, Shipping: The successful Bidder is responsible for the proper removal and/or pick-up of the assets purchased within 48 hours or 2 business days following the auction completion. Contact our office with any questions regarding pick-up. Shipping arrangements are the responsibility of the successful bidder. An estimate for packing, removal and/or storage of the assets, at the successful Bidder's expense, may be provided. WILL CALL IS NOT AVAILABLE. ALL ORDER FULFILLMENT TAKES PLACE AT A DIFFERENT SECURE LOCATION, AS AVAILABLE. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL FEES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO VAT DUTIES, BROKER FEES, AND OTHER IMPORT FEES. 21. These terms and conditions, the contents of any listing and the contractual relationship between BBA and any bidder shall be interpreted under and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. **IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ** AS YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED BY AGREEING TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AUCTION, THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. Auctions are not on approval. No lots, items or components will be accepted for return or adjustment. Furthermore, certified material may never be returned because of possible differences of opinion with respect to the grade offered by any third-party organization, dealer, or service. No guarantee of grade is offered for uncertified Property sold and subsequently submitted to a third-party grading service. There are absolutely no exceptions to this policy. Under extremely limited circumstances, (e.g. gross cataloging error) a purchaser, who did not bid from the floor, may request Auctioneer to evaluate voiding a sale; such request must be made in writing detailing the alleged gross error, and submission of the lot to the Auctioneer must be pre-approved by the Auctioneer; A bidder must notify Blue Box Auction Gallery in writing of such request within three (3) days of the mail bidder's receipt of the lot. Any lot that is to be evaluated must be in our offices within 30 days after Auction, at the bidder's expense. Grading does not qualify for this evaluation process nor do such complaints constitute a basis to challenge the authenticity of a lot. AFTER THAT 30-DAY PERIOD, NO LOTS MAY BE RETURNED FOR ANY REASONS. Lots returned must be housed intact in the original holder or condition. No lots purchased by floor Bidders (including those Bidders acting as agents for others) may be returned, under any circumstances. Late remittance for purchases may be considered just cause to revoke all return privileges. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU REQUEST AND ARE GRANTED BY BBA, A RETURN OR REFUND, YOU AGREE THAT YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING A 15% RESTOCKING FEE BASED ON THE HAMMER PRICE OF EACH ITEM THAT IS RETURNED, LESS APPLICABLE TAXES, PLUS THE ENTIRE BUYER'S PREMIUM FOR EACH ITEM. ACCORDINGLY, THE RESTOCKING FEE, BUYER'S PREMIUM ARE NEVER ELIGIBLE FOR A RETURN OR REFUND. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU REFUSE PAYMENT FOR A WINNING BID YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO A 15% LIQUIDATED DAMAGES CHARGE OF THE HAMMER PRICE. |
Listing Information |
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Cai JiangBai (蔡江白) is an Asian modern and contemporary artist. Born in Shanghai in 1942, he is a member of the Chinese Artists Association, former Vice President of the Shanghai Watercolor Research Association, and a member of the Watercolor Working Committee of Shanghai Artists Association. He has also had the honor of a visiting professor position at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts. In his earliest years he studied under well-known artists Yu Yan Wenliang, Li Yongsen, and Ha Ting.
This exquisite lot features ten previously unseen works by Cai JiangBai and include more of his interpretive landscape, urban, and rural oriented paintings, whereas other works of his have typically focused on human subjects. Each piece tells a rich and unique story, permitting a rare glimpse into the everyday serenity of life in China through the eyes of a master watercolorist. Cai JiangBai’s museum and gallery quality work is limited in numbers and a perfect adornment for any sized collection of fine art and traditional Chinese aesthetics.
For more information about this auction, please visit https://www.blueboxauction.com/featured-auction-event.
Preview day for this auction is on June 24th by appointment only. Please email sold@blueboxauction.com or call 757-550-0285 to schedule a time.
1
Patron Walking from Marketplace
Sweeping colors wind down the road towards the observer in this landscape painting from Jiang. A river of green and brown mix together and fill the sides of the road, while thoughtfully flicked water strokes from his brush from natural cobblestones on the road. Past the well-worn bridge a figure appears to have begun the journey home from the brightly colored marketplace. With nearly half its population, roughly 600 million people, residing in rural China, it has only recently become a place where modern marketplaces are cropping up. So, it is not surprising to see such a depiction from the last few decades from Jiang. Roadside and smaller stalls like these are vital to everyday commerce and survival in rural China. And here the artist has captured the simplistic beauty of the homegrown atmosphere that still inhabits most of rural China. This slice of life painting deserves a spot to shine and spark conversation. 2
Woman Crossing Arched Bridge
Some of the world’s oldest bridges reside in the provinces of China, dating back as far as the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). Bridges throughout China’s history have been built with arches in shapes such as semicircular (also known as moon bridges as the reflection in water looks like a full moon), elliptical, polygonal, triangular, parabolic, horseshoe, and even egg shape. The aesthetic features of such bridges were as important in ancient times as they are now. They are famed for their ethereal beauty and have long been depicted in poetry and art alike throughout the centuries. The best-known arch bridge built by the ancient Chinese is Zhaozhou Bridge in Hebei Province. Also known as Anji Bridge or Dashi Bridge, Zhaozhou Bridge is the world’s first stone open-spandrel segmental arch bridge. It’s also the oldest arch bridge in China today with construction starting in 595 AD and taking over a decade to complete. Often considered a piece of art on its own because of its well-proportioned layout, elegant structure, and beautiful appearance. In fact, many stone bridges throughout China have followed these aesthetic ideals in crafting new bridges. So, it is no wonder that Cai Jiangbai has made a point to capture the beauty of the traditional fixed arch of Chinese bridges in this imposing portrait of one such landmark. Clean and uniform buildings sit just out of view in the background above the river as the marble-colored crossing takes center stage. The painting naturally draws your gaze upward one step at a time, until they suddenly find themselves dipping right back down the other side with the woman at the far end. Each point on the bridge is crowned with a carved stone column that shows off the sturdy and well-crafted nature of the bridge itself. This is further shown in the way the railways of the bridge come down and slide through the pillars and lock in place, leading to visually pleasing architecture. The woman may be swiftly on her way across the bridge and home, but the painting offers a chance to keep this moment in time frozen for all to enjoy.
3
Tujia Diaojiaolou & Gondola
The Tujia people who are native to the Wuling Mountains in China, prefer to live near mountains but close to or sometimes even over rivers or streams. Thus, you’ll find that many Tujia diaojiaolou are either placed directly on the waterfront or hang over the water. The Tujia believe that these stilted houses embody the coexistence of God and man, so the designs of their diaojiaolou often reflect this. Tujia diaojiaolou are hard to come by, since the Tujia people are slowly abandoning their old settlements and wandering lifestyles to assimilate into modern Chinese culture. Though declining, some efforts have been made to preserve the knowledge and display of these villages and housing styles, such as the Tujia Folk Customs Park in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, a large-scale replica of a traditional Tujia village. Jiang captures his own interpretation of this traditional village style in this almost abstract rendition of a river diaojiaolou village. Hints of life are hidden away even as portions of the walls and roof have been cut away by the artist so that the focus can remain on the land and village instead. At first glance this may appear to be a chaotic and simple piece. However, as one spends more time observing it, little details of realism and natural beauty begin to pop out. The lighting in particular creates a unique glow and warmth to the art as we see the sun’s rays reflected off slanted rooftops and creating lush shadows of the clouds and reflections on the calm river canvas below. The complexity of the painting also becomes more noticeable. Jiang’s talent for realism is often seen in the way he can expand the contents of a scene. For instance, here the hallow and dark underbelly of the houses in the low tide crawls back out away from light, with the occasional ghostly pillar permitting view of itself to the observer. The crooked boat seems to twist in the shallow waters out of reach from the residents above. While angled buildings and long tilted roofs draw the eye vertically and horizontally across the landscape breaking through the 2D nature of the work for a wonderful illusion of depth. A conversation piece for any space ready to reveal new details and delights with each viewing.
4
House Blooming from the Forest
As though emerging from a long nap, the cozy residence of this traditional brick and stone house peeks out from behind a heavy curtain of green and yellow for a moment of rural delight. Potted plants dot the stone wall of the surrounding area as moss and other small plant life make their way into the edges and cracks of the nearby staircases and paths. A few young trees cut through the canopy roof of the canvas into the unknown while splashes of brown and black smudge together to outline the man-made structures buried inside the picture. Bits of vibrant colored cloth hang over the balcony edge to hint at the life that dwells inside and around this place. Jiang seems to have stopped and plucked away the leaves to reveal the subject of his work here and offers a chance for a new owner of this landscape to share it with the world or just the occasional cup of coffee in your own cozy home.
5
Diaojiaolou House
According to legend, when the first ancient pioneers set out from northern and central China in the hopes of discovering and populating southern China, they came upon a number of difficulties. In the mountainous forests of south China, they met with fierce beasts, venomous snakes, and a myriad of unpleasant insects. In spite of this adversity, they managed to settle a colony in the south and set fires around the colony in order to deter wild beasts. However, the people continued to be plagued by vicious snakes and deadly scorpions, until one of the leaders, an old, wise and well-respected man, came upon an idea for a building suspended on wooden stilts. The colony built these tall dwellings and soon they were safe from the dangers of the creatures below. These were the first diaojiaolou, or “stilt houses,” a dwelling popular among several of the ethnic minority communities throughout southern China. The word “diaojiao” (吊脚) in Chinese means “hanging feet” and “lou” (楼) means “building”, so diaojiaolou literally means “hanging feet building”. They are so named because of their unusual appearance. The history of the diaojiaolou stretches back over 500 years and they are widespread throughout Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan province but differ in appearance depending on the ethnic group who built them. Although the original legend behind the diaojiaolou may seem farfetched, it touches upon one of its main benefits. The key to its popularity is that, in ancient times, these stilted buildings would provide protection from wild animals, and nowadays they continue to provide protection from venomous snakes and insects that are still prolific throughout China. The cool breeze blowing through the windows of the upper levels acts as a kind of natural air conditioner, meaning these buildings also help prevent humidity-related diseases common in southern China. In the south of China, the level of humidity on the ground during summer is almost unbearable and potentially dangerous, so elevated living spaces are particularly important. These stilted houses are also designed to survive most natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes. Cai Jiangbai goes on to captures the historic charm of the tall and ancient diaojiaolou house in this piece. Rising high above the swampy landscape, the building is but a remnant of its former glory, yet still standing strong. The thinning patches of its thatched grass roof slide off the sides, and burnt-looking fabric blows loosely in the wind, yet the poles of the structure hint that they will continue to stand regardless. Hiding below in the swirl of green and yellow grass a brown and white farm animal take its meal under the dry floor of the house. Faint lines from the sun and clouds blend together in the background allowing the subtle and pale colors of the house to stand out, drawing the observer into the serenity of the misty scene. A treasure lost to time, immortalized in this fantastic work of art, would suit any office space in need of a bit of contemplation and calm. 6
Woman by Door
Cai Jiangbai, like many of his mentors, aims to capture the experience and awe of daily life not through exact physical depictions, but through the life and energy of the painting. The sprawling facade of this home seems to push the observer into assuming it is the main focus of the work until a shorter, older woman relaxing by the door comes into view. Resting next to a basket of goods and a small cooking fire, as she is looking out beyond the observer’s view, her simple expression offers a soft and inviting feeling. Her sizable home is crafted out of a variety of tightly packed stone bricks and an ornate window, where perhaps generations of the family have come and gone during the home’s lifespan. Jiang seems to have taken his time with this particular piece, laying out each stroke of the brush with delicacy and respect for the woman and her life here. This picture is a thoughtful gift for any well-loved mother or grandmother.
7
Village Houses by the Gate
This painting by Cai Jaingbai is possibly a representation of the Yunnan/Dai-styled houses. The mud and stilted walls of this house rest under the heavily thatched roofs of cloth and hay. Daily life is unobscured here and small tools, bottles, and pails are scattered throughout the sand-colored soil of the surrounding hut yards. Broad, watery stokes of jade and sky blue saturate the background over the sprawling forest. Interestingly, this piece leaves much open to interpretation whether discussing the god-like figure hiding in the trees to the right, or the little trail of life crawling down the side of the larger house onto the ground. Though rural like many of his other works, it is difficult to determine when the painting’s location of origin might have existed, whether during his own time or an imagining of the past. Though we cannot know for certain Jiang’s intentions with this piece, we do get a sense of his masterful use of depth, color, technique, and artistic interpretation as found in his other works.
8
City Boardwalk on a Rainy Day
City dwellers scurry across the river and under the walkway to hide from the downpour, moving a citrus trail of color across this painting’s center. A maestro of water manipulation in his works, Jiang through talented methods creates the sensation of heavy rain and dampness in all corners of this piece. Bright, clouded skies seem to blot the landscape as distant buildings are stained in a dark blue drizzle. The occasional dim puddle can be seen streaking across the boardwalk and silvery strokes of the brush soak the left side of the city block in streaks of rain. Pedestrians hold tight onto their umbrellas, some struggling to open theirs while others seem to lean them back playfully over their shoulders. And the wide boards of the overpass appear to almost melt from the moisture. Despite the weather, the bridge and district seem busy with life, as boats continue along the river, and shops hang out their signs and flags for all to view. Jiang’s playfulness and vibrancy come through every corner of the painting and are guaranteed to lighten up any room on a dreary, rainy day.
9
Water Canal & Houses
For thousands of years, inland water transport has played a major role in China’s transportation infrastructure. Even today, China boasts more than 75,000 miles (some 125,00 km) of navigable inland waterways, the most extensive systems of any other country in the world. The country saw an uptick in waterway construction following the shift of power in the 1950s to a communist government. They have developed and spread over the decades and are now considered some of the most economically significant waterways in the world. But if you step away from the massive freight transports and dredged rivers, you’ll find a plethora of smaller water canals frequently throughout the cities and villages in China. These provide quick transportation for residents and help move goods to more remote locations. Most of all, they provide a view of the landscape that might not otherwise be visible. In this watercolor, residual ripples fade out from such a canal as Jiang directs us down this waterway. Long stone walls stretch down the canal as our eyes move up into the skyline among ever-growing rooftops. The older, simplistic houses appear far more colorful and livelier than their modern, background counterparts. Wrapped in rich brick reds and pale floral blues, the modest canal houses edge up alongside each other while steps are perched center for quick access to a boat for a daily shopping trip. Anyone with an appreciation of canal art scenes and water portraits will enjoy having this slice of Jiang’s work in their collection.
10
Closeup of House
Sitting atop a stone walkway, Cai Jiangbai invites us to take a moment to appreciate the little details of this home. The two-story stone house is adorned with pockets of color from the expanding flora of vines, as well as flowers of yellow, pink, and blue, helping it to stand out from the dark and worn street below. It’s clear from the planters spread throughout and the wide-open windows above that the outside environment is a welcome element to this residence. A tall door stands open for visitors while carved windows allow sunlight to pour inside. Jiang’s ability to paint everyday objects and architecture in such a way that it conveys an impression of the home and being is one of his best-honed traits. His works often offer a sensation of belonging and realness, so that the viewer need not be there personally to understand the vibrancy and splendor of the subject of his paintings. Jiang’s lovely depiction of this warm entrance would effortlessly settle into any home’s entryway to match.
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