THE IVORY AND FRAMES 18TH CENTURY

Details

**A RARE PAIR OF LARGE FRAMED PAINTED IVORY-EMBELLISHED PANELS
THE IVORY AND FRAMES 18TH CENTURY
One decorated with various immortals, including Shoulao holding a ruyi sceptre seated on a rocky island in the middle of a lake, the Eight Immortals, some in a log boat, and Liuhai seated on his three-legged toad, all below a pavilion borne on waves, the other panel decorated with various luohans and immortals, including a female immortal holding a vase, perhaps Guanyin, several figures in European dress, and a figure holding a gnarled staff overlooking the scene from a pavilion terrace, with the wufu in flight above, all in painted ivory, as well as small metal flowers, all applied to a later black fabric backing, in dark hardwood frames with foliate mounts of parcel-gilt metal
Panels 27 x 32½ in. (68.6 x 82.5 cm.); hardwood trestle stands and a pair of hardwood side tables with recessed openwork aprons (2)

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

The technique of decorating surfaces with carvings appeared as early as the Western Zhou period as evidenced by the discovery of an inlaid mother-of-pearl lacquer tray excavated in 1964 at Pangjiaguo, Luoyang, Henan province, cf. Zhu Jiajin, Treasures of the Forbidden City, Hong Kong, 1983, p. 224. This form of decoration was transferred to furniture and other works of art in the mid-Ming period with the additional inclusion of other materials such as carved nephrite, rock crystal, agate, hornbill, turtle shell, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and ivory. Inlaid works from the late Ming are rare. For two examples in the Palace Museum collection, Beijing, the first, a square brushpot decorated with ivory, jade, coconut shell, and mother-of-pearl, the second a soapstone inlaid circular box, see Zhongguo qiqi quanji, vol. 5, Ming, Fujian, 1996, nos. 198 and 199 respectively. This form of surface decoration continued into the Qing dynasty, more commonly found on boxes, brushpots and wall panels as well as cabinets and screens such as the present lot.

More from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

View All