CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIEME SIECLE

Large Chinese Coromandel screens, named after its entrepôt of departure towards the West on the coast of India, were fashionable and lavish gifts both at home and abroad since the 17th century. For the domestic market, they were often commissioned and displayed for special occasions and illustrate fine and recognizable scenes demonstrative of the elegant living style of the well-to-do. This one shows a celebratory yet sensual courtly scene with ladies at leisure. In addition, the reverse is decorated with further scenes referencing to the learned literati tradition, such as that of Song dynasty literatus Mi Fu bowing to an awesome rock. Though this one is not dated, this type of scene were commissioned as birthday gifts since the Kangxi period. Compare to another with a very similar scene sold at Christie’s, New York, 20 September 2005, lot 97.