Flower and Bird Chinese Scroll Painting – Silk Wall Art – Camellia Colorful Gongbi

Painted in colorful gongbi, this wall scroll brings a flower-and-bird scene into the room with real presence. It is the flower-and-bird theme that defines this scroll: familiar ground, seen as if for the first time. From a distance it's one image; up close it's camellia and colorful gongbi, each worth a look on its own.

The surface is silk at its best: smooth, unreflective, and flattering to every color. In Chinese painting, the camellia stands for devotion and quiet admiration. Color stays lively, varied color — enough to lift the ink, never enough to shout. Stand back and the whole holds together; step close and camellia rewards the visit. One cord, one nail: the scroll hangs flat and true, in the time-honored fashion. A piece like this anchors a wall the way a good sentence anchors a paragraph.

As a housewarming gift for someone who loves Chinese brushwork, it is hard to go wrong. Few wall pieces suit a study or meditation nook as naturally as this. It is a fine example of camellia and colorful gongbi Chinese painting, the kind of piece that grows on you.