Page 249 - Chinese Works of Art Chritie's Mar. 22-23 2018

ANOTHER PROPERTY
944
A ZITAN-FRAMED CARVED BAMBOO
WALL PANEL
18TH-19TH CENTURY
The gold-ground panel is decorated with delicately
carved bamboo appliques forming a scene of
three demons ofering dishes of fruit, fowers
and a sword to a seated oficial, while two further
demons prepare refreshments, all beneath
fowering peony branches and a fruiting tree.
The frame is constructed of zitan with a bamboo
veneer, and the reverse is of black lacquer.
39 in. x 24 in. (99 cm. x 61 cm.)
$8,000-12,000

The central fgure in this panel is recognizable
as Zhong Kui, a very popular fgure from Chinese
mythology. Zhong Kui was a talented scholar who
gained frst place in the imperial examinations,
but was nevertheless denied recognition or title
for his achievement. In anger, he committed
suicide and was thus condemned to be a ghost.
However the King of Hell recognized his talents
and placed him in charge of all ghosts. He
became known as the “Demon-Queller”, and
was frequently worshipped as a protective deity
by travelers fearful of lonely roads. Zhong Kui is
often depicted in paintings wearing the robes of a
scholar, and accompanied by demon servants, as
on the present panel.
清十八/十九世紀 紫檀框金地貼竹鍾馗圖挂屏

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