Chinese School, circa 1760
These lots have been imported from outside the EU … Read more
Chinese School, circa 1760

A Princess wearing Ji fu, with a pearl as hat insignia, holding a pipe, with a pair of golden pheasants, in an interior

Details
Chinese School, circa 1760
A Princess wearing Ji fu, with a pearl as hat insignia, holding a pipe, with a pair of golden pheasants, in an interior
reverse painting on bevelled mirrored glass
13 ½ x 10 ½in. (34.2 x 26.6cm.) excluding frame
19 ¾ x 15in. (50.2 x 38.1cm.) including frame
in a contemporary George III giltwood frame, c.1760
Provenance
Anon. sale, Sotheby’s, London, 10 Dec. 1986, lot 77.
Special notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Nicholas Lambourn
Nicholas Lambourn

Lot Essay

The pheasants are a symbol of beauty, good fortune, and refinement.
'In England in the mid-18th century there was a great demand for Chinese reverse paintings on glass of native Chinese landscape scenes and figures in landscapes. Many of these had mirrored backgrounds above the painted decoration and were placed in elaborate Chippendale frames to serve as mantel glasses or pier mirrors. While some were framed in English-style frames, others were placed in chinoiserie or Chinese frames. The introduction of portrait figures in mirrored landscape panels probably began early in the third quarter of the 18th century.' (Crossman, p.203).

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