Lot Essay
The remarkably polychrome decoration and intricate composition of this coromandel screen firmly establish it as a masterpiece made during the Kangxi period. This era marked a pinnacle in the production of coromandel lacquer, characterized by lavish designs tailored both for domestic market and export.
Our current coromandel lacquer screen portrays a vibrant scene on one side depicting a birthday celebration hosted by Guo Ziyi (697-781), a renowned general who served under four emperors and is credited with saving the Tang Dynasty by quelling the An Shi rebellion. Guo Ziyi was later granted princely status and eventually achieved deification in popular culture as a divinity symbolizing wealth and happiness. This subject matter was frequently depicted on coromandel screens, often chosen as birthday gifts. See a Kangxi period Coromandel screen with similar decoration sold at Christie's Paris, 9 June 2021, and another one sold at Christie's Paris, 10 June 2025, lot 41.
Our current coromandel lacquer screen portrays a vibrant scene on one side depicting a birthday celebration hosted by Guo Ziyi (697-781), a renowned general who served under four emperors and is credited with saving the Tang Dynasty by quelling the An Shi rebellion. Guo Ziyi was later granted princely status and eventually achieved deification in popular culture as a divinity symbolizing wealth and happiness. This subject matter was frequently depicted on coromandel screens, often chosen as birthday gifts. See a Kangxi period Coromandel screen with similar decoration sold at Christie's Paris, 9 June 2021, and another one sold at Christie's Paris, 10 June 2025, lot 41.