A RARE CARVED LACQUER TABLE SCREEN

Details

A RARE CARVED LACQUER TABLE SCREEN
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

The rectangular screen crisply carved on one side with a scene from 'Ode to the Red Cliff', depicting figures in a boat paddling along a fast-flowing river, with a crane in flight above tall overhanging cliffs on one side and pine and wutong trees growing precariously from the crags, framed by three cartouches of archaistic chilong against a floral diaper, the reverse with a lengthy eulogy on the 'Latter Ode to the Red Cliff', ending with the studio name Shu Guang Tang Zhu Ren Shu, framed by phoenix and peonies, the edge with a Qianlong mark, fitted in an openwork stand with peony sprays
11 3/4 in. (30 cm.) high, Japanese wood box

Provenance

Nishimura Tekisui Family Collection, sold at the Osaka Bijutsu Club, 8 March 1913, lot 301

Lot Essay

The 'Ode to the Red Cliff' theme is derived from an essay written by the famous Song dynasty poet, Su Shi (1036-1101). The text was inspired by Su's visits along the Yangzi River and to a particular site where a famous battle took place during the twilight era of the Han dynasty in 208 AD. The first Ode discusses the shortness of life and joys that could be had along the river; and the 'Latter Ode' describes hiking along the rocks with friends, drifting along the river on a boat and permitting the current to take the boat's direction. The boating scene appear to be a popular decorative theme during subsequent Ming and Qing dynasties, and applied to a variety of media such as ceramics, bamboo and lacquer.

Cf. a larger lacquer screen carved with a similar scene of the 'Ode to the Red Cliff', illustrated in the Special Exhibition Catalogue of Lacquer in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1981, pl. 64.

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