A HUANGHUALI TWELVE-PANEL SCREEN, WEIPING

LATE 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A HUANGHUALI TWELVE-PANEL SCREEN, WEIPING
Late 17th/Early 18th Century
Each panel carved and constructed in openwork, the narrow upper band with a pair of writhing dragons flanking a stylized shou character, above the large central section of wide latticework formed by short vertical and horizontal posts set regularly with open notched octagons, the lattice above a narrow band with coiled and confronted dragons, itself above the lower panel of squared scrolls representing adult and young dragons surrounding a shou character, the solid cusped apron with beaded edge extending to an upright spreading tendril, the two outer panels with the central section divided into the lattice and an outer vertical row of three slender panels, each carved with coiled dragons above and below one of the 'hundred antiques'
120in. (306.4cm.) high, 22in. (56cm.) long, 1in. (3.2cm.) deep

Lot Essay

Compare the screen with 'cut-out' apertures, formerly in the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection, illustrated by Sarah Handler, 'The Chinese Screen: Movable Walls to Divide, Enhance and Beautify', JCCFS, Summer 1993, p. 23; and Wang et al., Masterpieces from the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture, p. 156, no. 73, sold in these rooms, 19 September 1996, lot 107.

Compare, also, the 18th century twelve-panel screen included by John Kwang-Ming in the exhibition, The Beauty of Huanghuali, and illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 26. The background scrollwork and large lower panels containing stylized shou characters recall the motifs on the present screen. See, also, the twelve-panel Kangxi screen with stylized auspicious characters against scrollwork, inset with the original paintings belonging to Charles R. Gracie and Sons Inc., illustrated by Sarah Handler, op. cit., pp. 26-27.