Page 174 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art November 2018

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A VERY FINE REVERSE GLASS PAINTING A RARE TIANQI AND QIANJIN LACQUER THREE-LEAF
Qianlong POLYCHROME SCREEN
Delicately painted with an elegant couple reading a book in a luxuriant 18th century
garden by a lake, gilt-wood frame. The screen consisting of six panels, with a smaller and larger one
37cm (14 1/2in) long x 52cm (20 1/2in) wide. set within each leaf, each smaller panel skilfully incised and gilt with
a phoenix in flight amidst blossoming peonies and scrolling foliage,
£2,000 - 3,000 each larger panel with a lobed medallion enclosing a writhing dragon
CNY18,000 - 27,000 pursuing the flaming pearl amidst stylised clouds above a square
cartouche enclosing a standing qilin beneath pine trees and jagged
清乾隆 鏡面高士遊湖畫 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.
During the 18th century Canton (Guangzhou) was the centre for Overall 198 x 194cm (78 x 76 3/8in).
reverse glass paintings of this type, although the plates themselves
were of European manufacture, often French, supplied through the
agency of the Compagnie des Indes. The taste for these pieces £15,000 - 20,000
grew rapidly in Europe; indeed, in the 1760s Francis Dashwood, 2nd CNY140,000 - 180,000
Baronet had views of his seat West Wycombe Park sent to China to be
copied in reverse glass, favouring the techniques of Chinese craftsmen 十八世紀 填漆戧金團龍紋開光瑞獸圖三開屏風
to that of the European artisans. Compare with a related reverse glass
painting, 18th century, which was sold at Sotheby’s London,
26 October 2016, lot 1063.
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
166 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.