Painted during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), this delicate, exquisitely detailed handscroll features the motif figuratively known as “one hundred flowers.” To the Chinese, this motif of blooming flowers augurs good tidings. The scroll begins with early spring blossoms--plum, apricot, peach, and others--and follows the seasons throughout the year, ending with winter blooms of narcissus, wax plum, and camellia.

It is traditional in East Asia for collectors to add comments to such handscrolls on colophons (separate pieces of paper attached to the scroll’s end) and to stamp their personal seals on the paintings. This piece holds colophons by several Japanese and Chinese collectors dating as far back as 1867, while its earliest collector’s seal is that of Xiang Zijing (1525-1590). The work is in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art.

Sixteen assorted 4 x 9 1/4 in. full-color blank notecards (4 each of 4 designs) with white envelopes in a decorative box.