Page 141 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

216-CARVED TEAKWOOD SCREEN WITH GLASS
PAINTINGS (Ch'ien-lung)
SCENES ON FAMED HSI H u
This great screen, unusually tall, displays as its most con-
spicuous decoration seven glass paintings of scenes on
China's celebrated West Lake-the lake to which the Em-
peror Ch'ien-Iung twice made the long journey from Peking
(it is in the region of Shanghai), and which is still visited as
a holiday resort by moderns and known to many foreigners.
In one panel is shown a fishing village and the landing
place, in another the "autumn moon," with junks lying
quietly at anchor for the night and sampans being skulled
slowly through the water; others show the lake and vary-
ing shores under different lights, and the characteristic
pavilions and buildings, one panel depicting the sunset
hour, when the gongs in the temples sound and the people,
listening, get the time of the official ending of day. The
landscape colors are quiet but rich, and the atmospheric
quality is notable.
The lower glass panels depict various sages and immortals,
in groups, and garbed in bright colors of richness and va-
riety. The upper ones picture scenes from various foreign
countries, the artist apparently influenced and inspired by
European paintings and foreign traders.
Of the teakwood panels those at the top are carved with
bats among the clouds, and those at the base with the
dragon-scroll, bats and the twin-fish symbol. The screen is
III mne folds, with metal-bound feet.
Height, 8 [eet; length, 12 feet 6 inches.

(Illustrated)