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Lot Essay
Palace fans are extremely rare to find on the art market. They are traditionally placed on the sides of the imperial throne and in front of the back screen as can be seen in several halls of the Forbidden City such as in Shou Kang Gong, the Palace of Longevity and Health.
See a pair of red lacquer palace fans, dated Qianlong period, also on an elephant stand with a wood fan imitating the peacock feathers such as the present ones are in the collection of the Palace museum of Beijing, under the inventory number of Gu00115712, illustrated by Zhu Jiajin in Ming Qing shinei chenshe, Forbidden City Publishing, Beijing, 2004, pl. 78 (fig. 1).
The elephant was the embodiment of strength, wisdom and intelligence and the vase represented eternal harmony. As such, elephants with vases on their backs were put beside the throne to symbolize universal peace.
See a pair of red lacquer palace fans, dated Qianlong period, also on an elephant stand with a wood fan imitating the peacock feathers such as the present ones are in the collection of the Palace museum of Beijing, under the inventory number of Gu00115712, illustrated by Zhu Jiajin in Ming Qing shinei chenshe, Forbidden City Publishing, Beijing, 2004, pl. 78 (fig. 1).
The elephant was the embodiment of strength, wisdom and intelligence and the vase represented eternal harmony. As such, elephants with vases on their backs were put beside the throne to symbolize universal peace.