Chinese Calligraphy Couplets Attributed to Xiao Xian (1902–1997) | Humble Bamboo, Proud Plum Blossom

Product Description

This framed pair of Chinese calligraphy couplets is attributed to Xiao Xian and features the lines “虚心竹有低头叶” and “傲骨梅无仰面花.” Bamboo bending its leaves represents humility, while the upright plum blossom symbolizes integrity, resilience, and an independent spirit. The large characters are rendered with broad, forceful brushwork and varied line weight. Both panels are presented vertically in matching dark-toned frames with dark mats; an inscription and two red seal impressions appear on one panel.

Xiao Xian (1902–1997) was a prominent woman calligrapher in modern China. Born in Guiyang, Guizhou, with ancestral roots in Sichuan, she received early recognition from Kang Youwei and was strongly influenced by the stele-school tradition. Known for vigorous, weighty, and archaic large-character calligraphy, she is often grouped with Lin Sanzhi, Gao Ershi, and Hu Xiaoshi as one of the “Four Elders of Jinling.” This work is offered as attributed to Xiao Xian and not as an independently authenticated work.

Product Details

• Type: Pair of framed Chinese calligraphy couplets
• Attribution: Attributed to Xiao Xian (1902–1997)
• Text: “虚心竹有低头叶，傲骨梅无仰面花”
• Quantity: Two framed panels
• Presentation: Matching dark-toned frames with dark mats and glazing
• Markings: Inscription and two red seal impressions on one panel
• Reported Provenance: Gifted by a Taiwanese collector who stated that the work had been purchased through Beijing Rong Bao Zhai auction activity in the 1990s; this account has not been independently verified and is not presented as a confirmed auction record
• Authentication Status: Offered as an attributed work; the attribution, inscription, and seals do not constitute independent authentication