Page 306 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

3702

A KESI ‘IMMORTALS’ PANEL 清十八世紀 緙絲群仙祝壽掛軸
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

skilfully woven with great attention to detail with a celestial
scene depicting the Peach Festival, the Queen Mother
of West rendered holding a peach and flanked by two
attendants atop cloud scrolls, above a group of Daoist
immortals gathered on a balustraded balcony and honoring
Xi Wangmu, including Shoulao supporting a large peach
with both hands, all above tempestuous waters, the lower
section of the panel further decorated with groups of figures
honoring Xi Wangmu and holding various tributes, the
ethereal scene decorated with lush vegetation of tall trees
and jagged rockwork
210 by 97.3 cm, 82⅝ by 38¼ in.
HK$ 400,000-600,000
US$ 51,000-76,500

This kesi depicts the Peach Festival, a popular Daoist theme
associated with the birthday celebration of Xiwangmu, the
Queen Mother of the West. According to legend, this event
only took place in the Western Paradise once every 3000
years. Here the immortals are shown in the Turquoise
Pond (Yaochi) on Mount Kunlun. At the top two maidens
accompany Xiwangmu who rides a phoenix, and is greeted
by the Three Star Gods and various immortals and their
attendants. The auspicious message of this theme made
panels of this type suitable for presentation at birthdays.
While kesi panels decorated with this motif are relatively
common, examples of such large size are unusual; a slightly
smaller panel was sold at Christie’s New York, 22nd March
2012, lot 1627; two much smaller examples were sold in
our London rooms, the first 13th July 2005, lot 161, and
the second, 11th May 2011, lot 137; and a third was sold
in our New York rooms, 20th March 2012, lot 132. See
also a panel depicting Xiwangmu being greeted by female
immortals in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included
in the exhibition Masterpieces of Chinese Silk Tapestry and
Embroidery in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998,
cat. no. 21.
.

304 SOTHEBY ’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART