DATED BY INSCRIPTION TO THE SIXTH YEAR OF THE WANLI PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 1579

Details

A RARE INSCRIBED AND DATED SIX-PANEL LACQUER SCREEN
DATED BY INSCRIPTION TO THE SIXTH YEAR OF THE WANLI PERIOD, CORRESPONDING TO 1579
It is boldly decorated in tones of white, brownish-black, green and red lacquer with a carved design depicting a pair of spotted deer resting on a riverbank next to graphically rendered rocks in a landscape of pine, prunus and bamboo. The poetic inscription eulogises the scene of pine and deer, and the smaller script states that this was made during Spring in the third month of the sixth year of Wanli, following a drawing by Liu Tingfang and engraved by Chen Guangxian.
Each panel 80 1/8 in. (203.6 cm.) high, 23 ¼ in. (59 cm.) wide

Provenance

Private Northern Italian Collection.

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Samantha Yuen

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Lot Essay

The beautiful composition of this unusual, early lacquer screen is laden with symbolism. Spotted deer are associated with Daoist beliefs of immortality and their presence beneath a pine tree reinforces the message of longevity. A comparable but slightly later inscribed six-panel lacquer screen with the same decorative palette and subject, dated to the 22nd year of Kangxi, corresponding to 1684, was sold at Sotheby's Paris, Pierre Bergé: From One Home To Another, on 30 October 2018, lot 12.

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