Page 92 - 2019 Nov 28 Sir Quo-Wei Lee Collection Hong Kong

These ten famille-rose plaques are exuberantly enamelled
with vivid renditions of Immortals in wondrous landscapes.
The brilliance of the enamels and quality of the shaded
landscape decoration, in which the contours of the rocks
and mountains frame the figural scenes, provide an insight
into the opulence of the Qing dynasty. Each of the figures
is sensitively rendered with individual naturalistic detailing
of the features, and intricate enamelled details, such as the
textile designs on the robes.
Larger folding scenes were an important part of furnishings
and served multiple functions, from purely decorative
devices to partitioning rooms in private quarters or keeping
out draughts. Smaller sets of panels such as the current lot
had a similar function, utilised not just to partition area of the
room, but also purely for decorative purposes.
It is rare to find such a well preserved set of ten plaques.
Individual examples have appeared at auction, including
one sold in our London rooms, 13th May 2015, lot 158 and
another sold in these rooms, 30th May 2019, lot 769.

other views (with frames)

90 SOTHEBY ’S CHINESE ART