This motif was created in the style of ‘Gong Bi Zhong Cai Hua’ – the Chinese for ‘fine drawing’. The most popular subjects are flowers and bird motifs. This style is characterised by its vivid and luxurious colours which is why it was used by painters working for the Chinese court.
The Chinese name of the flower shown here is ‘La Mei’. It is a ‘harbinger of spring in winter’ and is called the Queen of Flowers in China. The sweet-smelling ‘La Mei’ grows only in China and only in the Yellow River region. It is a winter flower that blossoms from December to March on a 2 to 4 metre high stalk. ‘La Mei’ is a symbol of hope in difficult times.