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hello, I've seen this item is for sale at an upcoming auction at Bonham and i'm wondering if it's of importance. The auction house seems to be nonchalant in the description and in the pre-sale estimate. However, i think they seem to be important (or at least should be in an important library or museum). Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Link :Kemeng guyang Miao

https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2020/01/the-illustrated-album-of-the-kemeng-guyang-miao-people/
Regards,
I.Nagy

What makes an object important, in your view? My sense is that there are few other albums of genre pictures of the Miao available to purchase, creating some scarcity value. There seem to be a handful of them in major libraries and museum collections already that can be easily viewed online, at least according to a quick google search. Perhaps the inscriptions and images in this album document some aspects of Miao life/culture that are historically valuable to preserve. Artistically, its brushwork doesn't strike me as notable. And the listing may be nonchalant because Bonham's doesn't have a good idea of its market value either. Skinner is also known for low estimates, vague catalog descriptions, and flattering photography. The listing states that this lot is compiled from multiple editions of the book, which will reduce its price relative to a complete edition.

FYI, in case anyone might not already be aware, the Miao in China ethnically include the Hmong people, who migrated out of China into Southeast Asia, notably to Myanmar (Burma), Northern Vietnam (where they were called the 'Montagnard', Laos (where many fought on the side of Royal Lao Army troops during the Vietnam War years and were locally called by what they considered to be the derogatory name of 'Meo', as well as border areas of Thailand.

Bill H.

Thank you I. Nagy and Bill for additional information.
I thought these pages were similar to the ZhiGong Tu album of the Imperial Album of Minorities in the 18th century which might be of historical and artistic importance. They are rarely offered at auction. The pages offered at Bonhams probably dated in the 19th century, and they are watercolor on paper.

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