Page 166 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 紳士藏品

189 *
A RARE ZITAN-FRAMED KINGFISHER-FEATHER-INLAID
‘LANDSCAPE’ PANEL
18th/19th century
Exquisitely decorated with lavish use of turquoise-blue kingfisher
feathers reserved on a luxurious velvet ground, depicting rugged
mountains surrounding a lake with two large pavilions in the
foreground, all amidst pine, bamboo and wutong trees, a full moon
hanging in the sky, all set in a skilfully carved zitan frame with cloud
scrolls.
89.5cm (35 1/4in) long x 71.5cm (28 1/4in) wide.

£30,000 - 40,000
CNY240,000 - 310,000

十八/十九世紀 紫檀邊框點翠山水圖掛屏

Provenance: a European private collection

來源：歐洲私人收藏

This remarkable panel demonstrates the exceptional artistry of the
18th century craftsmen reproducing idyllic landscapes in a variety
of materials and in the case of the present lot, utilising the brilliant
enduring colours of kingfisher feathers meticulously inlaid within the
design. The popularity of the use of the prized feathers in appliqué
technique reached its peak in the 18th century, with the majority of
workshops specialising in utilising the feathers for decoration and in
carving the precious zitan wood, located in Guangzhou. Such works
were commissioned by the Qing Court and made as Imperial tribute.

Compare with a pair of related screens with kingfisher feather
decoration, Qianlong, in the Shengyang Palace Museum, and a further
panel in the Forbidden City, illustrated by B.Jackson, Kingfisher Blue:
Treasures of an Ancient Chinese Art, Berkeley, Toronto, 2001, pp.30-
31 and 186. See also three other screens decorated with kingfisher
feathers, mid Qing dynasty, made in Guangzhou as Imperial tribute,
illustrated by Hu Desheng, Ming Qing Gu Gongting Jia Zhu Da Guan,
vol.1, Beijing, 2006, nos.388, 394 and 396.

Compare with a related pair of zitan-framed kingfisher feather inlaid
‘landscape’ screens, Qianlong, which were sold at Bonhams London,
2 November 2021, lot 49.

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