KANGXI PERIOD, DATED TO AN AUSPICIOUS DAY IN THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE DINGMAO YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1687, AND OF THE PERIOD

Details

AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY TWELVE-PANEL COROMANDEL LACQUER SCREEN
KANGXI PERIOD, DATED TO AN AUSPICIOUS DAY IN THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE DINGMAO YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1687, AND OF THE PERIOD
Finely carved with a scene from the novel 'A Bed-full of Tablets' (Manchuanghu), depicting figures at various pursuits in a terraced Palace setting replete with pavilions, halls and bridges, with Guo Ziyi seated in the main reception hall watching ladies dance and musicians play as friends and officials approach to pay tribute, all set amidst a lush, sprawling garden, the boundaries delineated by a tiled wall, on the other side of which wait the grooms and horses, all framed by panels of precious objects above, and on the sides by four-clawed dragons writhing amidst clouds and above landscapes containing both real and imaginary creatures repeated along the bottom, the reverse inscribed with a long dedication in kaishu enclosed by a border of shou, crane and yin-yang roundels, further framed above and onthe sides by precious objects and flowers, and floral sprays along the bottom
112 in. (284.5 cm.) high, 228 in. (579.1 cm.) wide

Provenance

Christie's, New York, 16 September 1999, lot 152.

Literature

W. De Kesel and G. Dhont, Coromandel Lacquer Screens, Chicago, 2002, p. 23, nos. 14 and 15.

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Christopher Engle

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Lot Essay

The present screen is a most impressive example of its type, combining the highest quality of lacquer workmanship with a dedication of historical importance. The dedication indicates that the screen was presented to Magistrate Tian Jieweng in Fujian in 1687, on the occasion of his birthday and praises his benevolence and integrity. The dedication is signed by, and bears the seals of Zheng Kaiji, an official of the Imperial Academy who composed the text. According to W. De Kesel and G. Dhont, Coromandel Lacquer Screens, Chicago, 2002, p. 22, Zheng held the illustrious posts of researcher at the Imperial Academy, historian of the Imperial family, and examiner for the Imperial Examination Board. An additional thirty emissaries, magistrates and administrators from Fujian province are also listed as commissioning this commemorative screen on behalf of Magistrate Tian.

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