Page 316 - 2020 Sept Important Chinese Art Sotheby's NYC Asia Week

9/2/2020 Important Chinese Art | Sotheby's

often depicted in paintings and prints in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is shown in a variety of settings accentuating its versatility.

The present pair is noteworthy for the bold asymmetry and restraint of its panel decoration. The openwork design on the panels is
described in Ji Cheng’s influential book, the Yuanye or The Garden Treatise (1631) as binglieshi ‘cracked-ice’ decoration, where the
simple yet lively lines are recommended as ideal for lattice panels. The auspicious design serves to heighten the rich luminosity of
the costly huanghuali wood and varying light sources would create an intriguing network of shadows throughout the day. Compare
a pair in the Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, acc. no. 83.38.391.

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