Page 134 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 紳士藏品

160
A RARE IMPERIAL YELLOW-GROUND SILK EMBROIDERED
THRONE-CUSHION COVER
Qianlong
Finely embroidered with a summer scene of layered rocks rising in
peaks from rolling waves, the group of jagged rocks picked up in blue
threads surrounding a tall paulownia tree, flanked by further rocks
issuing flowering peony branches and large peaches, all on a vibrant
yellow ground interspersed with wispy clouds and bats, mounted.
128.7cm (50 1/2in) wide x 116.8cm (46in) long.

£18,000 - 24,000
CNY140,000 - 190,000

清乾隆 御製明黃地福壽紋座褥

Provenance: Jacqueline Simcox Ltd., London, June 2008
An English private collection

來源：倫敦古董商Jacquelin Simcox Ltd.，2008年6月
英國私人收藏

Finely embroidered in multi-coloured counted stitch and wrapped The Imperial Household Department regularly sent specifications for
gold thread with a paulownia tree rising from the terrestrial diagram, decorative furnishing to one of the three southern Imperial Workshops
reaching up to the heavens, flanked by fruiting branches bearing nine centres for fabrication. The rigidity of traditional furniture and the
large peaches and peony stems, this remarkable panel would have luxurious taste of the Chinese elites resulted in a variety of upholstered
likely served as cover to a throne cushion gracing one of the halls covering which were at the same time functional, decorative and
within the Forbidden City. hierarchal.

Throne cushions provided decoration and comfort to the wide thrones Compare with a very similar yellow-ground throne cushion, Qianlong,
and raised kang platforms placed throughout the ceremonial halls and in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, illustrated by S.Jenyns, Chinese
principal residencies of the Forbidden City. Set with low tables and Art: The Minor Arts, New York, 1963, no.11.
cushions, these heated brick platforms became a focus of domestic
activity especially during the colder months. These platforms served
as couches, seats and beds, and their cushions were often decorated
with delicate tendril patterns and floral designs, such as the present
panel. Regardless of the thematic content, cushion decoration was
always symmetrically arranged and throughout the Qing dynasty,
most textiles commissioned by the Palace were designed by Court
artists working for the ‘Wish-Fulfilling Studio’ Ruyiguan; see J.Vollmer,
Imperial Silks. Ch’ing Dynasty Textiles in the Minneapolis Institute of
Arts, Minneapolis, MA, 2000, pp.827-828.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
132 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.