A MASSIVE FIVE-PANELLED ZITAN THRONE SCREEN

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A MASSIVE FIVE-PANELLED ZITAN THRONE SCREEN
18TH/19TH CENTURY

Comprising a central and four flanking tiered panels incised and gilt to depict tree peony, prunus, bamboo and iris with pairs of birds and butterflies, waterfalls and rockwork, set within beaded frames, each below a carved foliate relief panel and a continuous gold-ground shaped overmantel, finely carved on each side with a central vase of flowers, floral motifs and peony meanders, all supported on a bold waisted base carved with lotus petal borders and stylised peony meanders (chipped, panels reversed) --124 x 157½ x 35½in. (315 x 400 x 90cm.)

Lot Essay

An analysis by The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, England, of a sample of wood taken from this lot confirms it to be of Pterocarpus sp. in the family leguminosae, sub-family Papilionoideae

A comparable zitan throne screen with cloisonne panels, dated to the Qianlong period, was included in the joint exhibition of the Palace Museum, Beijing and the Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court, Catalogue, no. 90; another is illustrated in Selected Handicrafts From The Palace Museum, Wen Wu Press, 1974, fig. 89

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