Pair of Chinese Reverse Glass Paintings — Republic Period, Circa 1938–1946 — Longevity & Domestic Harmony

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An exceptional pair of large, hand-painted reverse glass artworks from the late Republic of China period (circa 1938–1946), each rendered … Read more An exceptional pair of large, hand-painted reverse glass artworks from the late Republic of China period (circa 1938–1946), each rendered with masterful detail and luminous color. These finely preserved paintings embody two complementary themes central to Chinese art — Longevity and Domestic Harmony.

One panel portrays Shou Lao, the God of Longevity, accompanied by children offering peaches — classic emblems of long life and fortune. The companion scene features an elegant lady with two children in a serene mountain landscape, representing domestic virtue, prosperity, and the joys of family life.

Painted in reverse directly on glass using a painstaking process in which each detail is applied backward (foreground first, background last), these works showcase the refined realism and tonal modeling associated with Shanghai and Canton workshops of the 1930s–40s. The soft blending, delicate stippling, and mineral pigment palette confirm that both are entirely hand-painted, not enamel reproductions. The subtle Western-style shading reflects the Shanghai School influence of the late Republic era.

Each painting remains in its original hardwood frame, secured from the reverse by small wooden pegs — a traditional Cantonese framing method that holds the glass securely without nails. At the top of each frame is a cast-bronze ruyi (cloud-form) hanger, the ruyi symbol translating to “as you wish” and signifying good fortune and prosperity. These hangers, squared on the interior and beautifully oxidized, date to the 1930s–40s and are mortised directly into the frame rather than surface-mounted. See less