AN IMPERIAL ZITAN FIVE-PANEL 'DRAGON' SCREEN

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AN IMPERIAL ZITAN FIVE-PANEL 'DRAGON' SCREEN
QING DYNASTY, IMPERIAL WORKSHOPS, PROBABLY CANTON

Carved on each of the three central leaves with a full-faced, five-clawed dragon with a flaming pearl amidst a ground of swirling waves, the two panels on the side each with further sinuous dragons, below similarly decorated smaller panels, the top pierced with an openwork panel of two confronting dragons flanking a pearl amidst scrolling clouds, the screens flanked at the foot by two openwork dragons, all resting on the waisted base carved with a key-fret band, borders of lotus and waves with further dragons
33 3/4 x 30 1/4 in. (85.7 x 77 cm.)

Lot Essay

Compare with a zitan cupboard carved with dragons and clouds, attributed to the Guangdong Workshops for the Western Chamber of Yingxin Hall, illustrated by Yang Boda in the exhibition, Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court, 1987, Hong Kong, Catalogue, pl. 14. For a detail of another zitan cabinet door, also carved with dragons, cf. The Forbidden City, back cover. The dragon is depicted among clouds rather than waves.

(US$22,000-26,000)

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