Some arrive in splendid saddles. Others would rather curl up beside you. Meet a small gathering of cloud horses, bright-eyed dogs and one very contented pig.
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac have a way of becoming part of the family. A birth year, a much-loved companion or simply a face that makes you smile can be the beginning of a painting.
Here the horses dress for an occasion, the dogs supply the mischief, and the pig seems wonderfully untroubled by the world. A single animal makes a personal gift; a pair can tell a little story of two people.
A cloud horse can bring a stately note to a study; a small animal portrait feels happily at home by a favourite chair. Choose the companion that makes you smile.
A flick of a tail, a pause beneath a lotus leaf, then off again. These fish make a small world of their own, full of movement and lovely places for the eye to linger.
Fish and lotus carry wishes for abundance through the years; nine carp bring a poetic wish for lasting happiness and constancy. The wide composition opens like a garden pond, while the circling pair keeps its own gentle rhythm.
Good things come swimming.
A flick of a tail, a pause beneath a lotus leaf, then off again. These fish make a small world of their own, full of movement and lovely places for the eye to linger.
Fish and lotus carry wishes for abundance through the years; nine carp bring a poetic wish for lasting happiness and constancy. The wide composition opens like a garden pond, while the circling pair keeps its own gentle rhythm.
Clouds make excellent company.
A dragon rarely travels in a straight line. It curls through a bank of clouds, gathers its whiskers and sends the eye off on another adventure. Follow the small scales and sweeping mane: the pleasure is in the journey.
Gold brings a sense of ceremony; blue-green feels fresh and full of life. A dragon and phoenix share the page with the grace of a well-matched pair. Choose the presence that suits your room, from a splendid horizontal work to a smaller picture with plenty of spirit.
Which little character is yours?
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac have a way of becoming part of the family. A birth year, a much-loved companion or simply a face that makes you smile can be the beginning of a painting.
Here the horses dress for an occasion, the dogs supply the mischief, and the pig seems wonderfully untroubled by the world. A single animal makes a personal gift; a pair can tell a little story of two people.
Which little character is yours?
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac have a way of becoming part of the family. A birth year, a much-loved companion or simply a face that makes you smile can be the beginning of a painting.
Here the horses dress for an occasion, the dogs supply the mischief, and the pig seems wonderfully untroubled by the world. A single animal makes a personal gift; a pair can tell a little story of two people.
Good fortune has company.
Caishen, the God of Wealth, arrives with a generous smile and a fondness for rather good company. A tiger lends him a little swagger; a rabbit keeps things light. Books, blossoms and golden ingots leave plenty to discover on a second look.
Across twelve paintings, each zodiac companion adds its own small delight. Choose a birth-year animal, a pair for the household or a cheerful gathering. Together they carry a warm wish for plenty, kindness and days worth celebrating.
A bold spirit, a peaceful home.
A fierce brow, a magnificent beard, and sleeves that seem to catch the breeze. In Chinese painting, Zhong Kui carries wishes for protection and good fortune. A lifted foot or a curious little companion gives this formidable figure a wonderfully human warmth.
Court-style silk mounting brings a measured richness to the paintings: deep blue-green brocade, warm ivory silk and fine decorative borders. The vermilion brushwork remains the heart of each composition, lively and full of character.
Wisdom, with time for a nap.
In the Luohan tradition, character lives in a face, a gesture and the quiet space around it. Here contemplation comes with a twinkle in the eye—and occasionally a companion who has other plans.
A flowering branch is worth stopping for. A basket may hold the day’s small pleasures. On a swing, beneath a tree or resting by a table, these figures remind us how much delight an ordinary moment can contain.
Wisdom, with time for a nap.
In the Luohan tradition, character lives in a face, a gesture and the quiet space around it. Here contemplation comes with a twinkle in the eye—and occasionally a companion who has other plans.
A flowering branch is worth stopping for. A basket may hold the day’s small pleasures. On a swing, beneath a tree or resting by a table, these figures remind us how much delight an ordinary moment can contain.
The garden has little guests.
A flower opens, a leaf turns, a tiny visitor arrives without an invitation. These paintings find their stories in the small happenings of a garden: generous peonies, airy branches and the briefest touch of a wing.
Broad leaves sit beside fine stems; soft colour gathers at a petal’s edge. Give a single work a quiet corner, or let two related paintings hold a conversation across the room.
