Lot 525. A wall fresco fragment of two ladies, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); 84.5cm (33 1/4in) high x 67cm wide (26 3/8in) wide. Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500. Sold for £ 10,200 (€ 11,900). © Bonhams 2001-2021

Depicting two ladies gazing to the right descending a path, with billowing scarves and sleeves, all within a walled garden, framed and glazed.

Note: The style of the present fresco is inspired by late Tang dynasty temple painting style. This is evident in the treatment of the roundness of the 'melon-seed'-shaped faces and the swirling scarves, giving a dynamism to the work, which was popular amongst builders and decorators of Buddhist temples of the time and continued throughout the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties.

See a related fresco panel with female deities, Ming dynasty, which was sold at Bonhams London, 5 November 2020, lot 82.

Bonhams. Roger Keverne Ltd Moving On (Part II), London, New Bond Street, 7 June 2021