Page 165 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

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A PAIR OF MONUMENTAL APRICOT ORANGE-GROUND The scene depicts numerous birds, in tribute to the popular and
EMBROIDERED SILK ‘HUNDRED BIRDS’ HANGINGS auspicious design of the ‘Hundred Birds Paying Tribute to the
Circa 1900 Phoenix’. According to Chinese legend, the phoenix is the Queen
The rectangular panels intricately embroidered with auspicious of all feathered creatures, appearing only in times of prosperity and
birds including cranes and long-tailed birds standing or perching on peace. Birds also played a prominent part in the visual culture of
entwined branches of bamboo and prunus and amidst lingzhi fungi, rank and hierarchy, as the various ranks of the civil bureaucracy were
all executed in the vibrant shades of white, aubergine, green, and blue represented on official robes with badges depicting a bird. Thus,
silk threads on a brilliant apricot-orange ground, lined blue. the first rank badge was a Manchurian crane; the second rank, a
536cm (211in) long x 250cm (98 1/2in) wide. (2 ). golden pheasant; the third, a peacock, etc., down to the eighth and
ninth ranks represented by quails and sparrows. Screen depicting
£8,000 - 10,000 the multitudes of birds, in an Imperial context, would suggest the
CNY63,000 - 79,000 harmonious gathering of officials at court: the bird kingdom mirroring
the Son of Heaven’s human realm.

約1900年 金黃緞地百鳥圖大掛屏一對 Compare with a related silk embroidered pair of ‘Hundred Birds’ panels
inset into hongmu screens, 19th century, which was sold at Bonhams
Provenance: an English private collection London, 2 November 2021, lot 100.

來源：英國私人收藏

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 163