Page 140 - Sotheby's Important Chinese Art, Sept. 21-22, 2-21, NYC

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PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED TEXAS COLLECTION 清乾隆 剔彩山水高士圖掛屏一對 Some carved polychrome lacquer panels of this size and carved cinnabar lacquer panels sold at Christie’s New York,
AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF CARVED THREE- period bear images specifically associated with the Qianlong 19th September 2006, lot 68, and another illustrated in
COLOR LACQUER ‘LANDSCAPE’ PANELS 來源： Emperor, such as an inscribed panel commemorating the Edward F. Strange, Chinese Lacquer, New York, 1926, pl. 26;
triumphant campaigns of General Agui (1717-1797), who
literary scenes, including a pair of panels with images drawn
A & J Speelman，倫敦，1979年
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD spent 1771-76 in the Sichuan mountains quelling peasant from the Ming dynasty novel Fengshen yanyi [Creation of the
rebellions on behalf of the Emperor. A panel from this group Gods] was offered in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd October
each finely carved in high relief with a mountainous
landscape scene in cinnabar, depicting a pavilion in the Under the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736-95), lacquer arts is published in Derek Clifford, Chinese Carved Lacquer, 2005, lot 387; scenes of cultural importance such as Wang
foreground nestled amongst jagged rocks and pine trees, enjoyed a renaissance following their decline at the end of London, 1992, pl. 99, and sold at Christie’s New York, 21st Xizhi’s (303-361) penning of the Lanting xu [Orchid Pavilion
scholars and attendants engaged in various activities, all the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the intervening years. At March 2000, lot 70, and later again in their London rooms, Preface], as seen on a panel sold in our Hong Kong rooms,
23rd October 2005, lot 364, and on a lacquer screen in
12th November 2002, lot 41. A number of other carved
against a black wave and an ocher classic scroll diaper both imperial and private workshops, craftsmen working in
ground, all framed by a border of keyfret, each mounted with this medium achieved new heights in terms of virtuosity and polychrome lacquer panels of the same subject survive, the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in
a metal hanger (2) scale of execution. The Qianlong Emperor commissioned including one from the collection of the Earl of Iveagh which Gugong bowuyuan cang wenwu zhenpin quanji: Ming Qing
Height 27½ in., 70 cm; Width 40½ in., 103 cm numerous panels, often in pairs, to adorn the myriad halls built sold at Christie’s London, 23rd May 1984, lot 2537; and jiaju / The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
one which sold in our London rooms, 2nd November 1984,
Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, vol.
under his direction. Even by his demanding standards, the
PROVENANCE present pair of panels is exceptional in its exquisite details and lot 231. The Qianlong Emperor’s naval campaigns for the II, Hong Kong, 2002, p. 209, pl. 181. Compare a related
A & J Speelman, London, 1979. painterly qualities. The technical complexity, large format, and pacification of Taiwan (1786-88) were also commemorated panel in a similar style depicting enlightened luohan and
in engravings and in corresponding inlaid carved lacquer
accompanied by an imperial poem, from the collection
sumptuous materials of this pair of panels suggest that they panels. See, for example, a panel that sold at Christie’s of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Bowdich Cottell, sold in our
$ 300,000-500,000 would have been made for an imperial palace.
London, 12th July 2005, lot 148. London rooms, 4th November 2009, lot 123; and the pair to
Beyond military subjects, Qianlong-era carved lacquer wall that panel, from an old Austrian collection (by repute), that
panels also depict landscape scenes, for instance, a pair of sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 3rd April 2018, lot 3626.

136 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N10748 137