Page 188 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 士紳藏品

121
A RARE THREE-LEAF POLYCHROME TIANQI AND QIANJIN
LACQUER SCREEN
18th century
The screen consisting of six panels, with a smaller and larger one
set within each leaf, each smaller panel skilfully incised and gilt with
a phoenix in flight amidst blossoming peonies and scrolling foliage,
each larger panel with a lobed medallion enclosing a writhing dragon
pursuing the flaming pearl amidst stylised clouds above a square
cartouche enclosing a standing qilin beneath pine trees and jagged
rocks, all reserved on a honeycomb diaper ground filled with flower
heads and wan motifs, enclosed within a key-fret border and further
cartouches alternating with bats and shou characters.
Overall 198 x 194cm (78 x 76 3/8in)
£40,000 - 60,000
CNY360,000 - 530,000

十八世紀 填漆戧金團龍紋開光瑞獸圖三開屏風

Provenance: Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 1 March 1957, lot 216
A distinguished European private collection, and thence by descent

來源： 1957年3月1日於紐約Parke-Bernet Galleries拍賣，拍品216號
顯貴歐洲私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今

The six panels would have probably been inset within the front doors
of a pair of lacquered cabinets made for a high ranking member of
the Qing Court, possibly a member of the Imperial family; compare
a polychrome tianqi and qiangjin lacquer cabinet, Wanli mark and of
the period, from the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming
and Qing Dynasties, vol.II, Hong Kong, 2002, pl.172. The close
Imperial association is demonstrated in the symbolism of the phoenix
and peonies and dragon pursuing the flaming pearl as well as the
impressive large scale and type of craftmanship typical for Imperial
works of art. The depiction of the shou characters and bats represents
the wish for longevity.

Compare the decoration of phoenixes on polychrome lacquer
tianqi and qiangjin boxes, Qianlong, from the Qing Court collection,
illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2006,
pls.76-77. See also a polychrome tianqi and giangjin lacquer display
cabinet, Yongzheng, and another related display cabinet, Qianlong
from the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection
of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing
Dynasties, vol.II, Hong Kong, 2002, pls.215 and 222.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
186 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.