Page 32 - 2020 October 8 HK Fine Classical Paintings

This magnificent screen would have stood in a grand hall to
此組圍屏原設於舊時廳堂，屏前迎賓禮客、主持要
create a striking backdrop for a formal reception or official 務，彰顯朱門氣派。縧環板及裙板透雕螭龍，且團作
event. Deftly carved with an intricate motif of chilong and 「福」、「祿」、「壽」字，紋飾繁密，刀法嫻熟，
auspicious characters, this screen demonstrates the bold
creativity of woodcarvers working in the 17th century. While 可見十七世紀木工奇思巧構。螭龍紋飾古已有之，然
the chilong seen on these panels were inspired by archaism, 盤錯蜿蜒、得此神采者，實不多見。
their vigorous and dynamic rendering on this piece is unusual.
The folding screen served multiple functions: it divided a room 圍屏功用頗多，既可分隔一室，遮擋不便示人之處，
concealing areas and objects that were not supposed to be 又可供女眷藏身，憑透雕窺望來人；屏心嵌名畫佳
displayed, and provided a hiding place for ladies, who could 篇，從右至左觀之，與閱書卷無異，可展現主人詩文
peek at important visitors through the openwork carving. 造詣。此類圍屏非大戶不可享，故尤為稀貴。
When mounted with paintings by a famous artist or lines from
a favourite poem, both of which were viewed and read from
right to left as a traditional Chinese book, it heightened their 多扇圍屏源遠流長，其前身獨扇屏風早在戰國（公元
importance and showcased the sophisticated taste of the 前475-221年）已濫觴，及至北魏（386-534年）更成
master of the house. Such monumental screens were made 風尚。早期屏風偏矮，立於座席後或床榻前，可昭威
only for the wealthiest aristocratic families, and are thus very 儀，可護隱私。而後，屏風尺寸漸大，於明清登峰造
rare. 極，木刻版畫頻頻可見，然存世之例寥寥無幾。
Multi-panelled screens have a long history in China, developing
from single-panelled screens made as early as the Warring 此類圍屏存例甚罕，比一組十二扇圍屏，屏心嵌山水
States period (475-221 BC) and becoming popular from the
Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534). These early screens, 畫，Ruth 及 Bruce Dayton 伉儷舊藏，現貯明尼阿波利
which were relatively short, framed a platform where high- 斯美術館，載於 Robert D. Jacobsen 及 Nicholas Grindley，
ranking individuals sat or enclosed a canopy bed to provide 《Classic Chinese Furniture》，明尼阿波利斯，1999年，
privacy. They thus had both an honorific and protective 圖版54；另一組，原加州中國古典家具博物館藏，錄
function. Screens gradually become larger and the most 於王世襄及柯惕思，《明式家具萃珍》，三藩市，1995
impressive examples were made in the Ming and Qing 年，圖版73，後售於紐約佳士得1996年9月19日，編號
dynasties. While they often appear on woodblock printed
books of the period, extant examples are rare. 107；及一例，售於紐約佳士得1999年9月16日，編號106
。
A very small number of screens of this type has survived:
a twelve-panelled screen mounted with a set of landscape
paintings, in the collection of Ruth and Bruce Dayton, now
in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, is illustrated in Robert D.
Jacobsen and Nicholas Grindley, Classic Chinese Furniture,
Minneapolis, 1999, pl. 54; a screen in the former Museum of
Classical Chinese Furniture in California, is illustrated in Wang
Shixiang and Curtis Evarts, Masterpieces from the Museum of
Classic Chinese Furniture, San Francisco, 1995, pl. 73, and was
later sold at Christie’s New York, 19th September 1996, lot 107;
and another was sold at Christie’s New York, 16th September
1999, lot 106.