A Chinese Export Eight-Panel Coromandel Folding Screen. Unknown maker, Chinese. Late Qing Dynasty, Tongzhi Period (1862-18...

Description

A Chinese Export Eight-Panel Coromandel Folding Screen

Unknown maker, Chinese
Late Qing Dynasty, Tongzhi Period (1862-1874)/Guangxu (1875-1908)
Lacquer with paint and gilding
Unmarked
83 inches high x 129 inches wide

A late Qing Dynasty, Tongzhi Period (1862-1874)/Guangxu (1875-1908) eight panel lacquer screen with carved, painted and gilt-highlighted decoration, the obverse with continuous outer border of pink lotus surrounding upper border with "Hundred Antique" motif and with lateral/lower continuous border of mythical beasts, all centering a depiction of an idealized Han Dynasty palace setting of terraced pavilions amidst trees and ornamental rocks, the numerous figures in various courtly pursuits, the reverse with stylized depiction of a tranquil landscape with pine tree, lake, lotus flowers and flying cranes.

This screen echoes a revered and rare theme in Chinese art of portraying the Imperial court in scholarly and leisurely pursuits. The design of the screen may be based on paintings by Qui Ying (1494-1552), who specialized in this genre. The border format of this screen clearly echoes earlier Kangxi (1662-1722) period screens. Slight variations in the border design and the eight-panel format are, however, more indicative of the Tongzhi (1862-1874) and Guangxu (1875-1908) periods.




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