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Lot Essay
Decorative stone panels have long been prized by the literati for their abstract imagery and complex patterns. Often evoking dramatic landscapes, these panels were set into tables, display stands or screens. Table screens were set on the scholar's desk to encourage reflection.
The present table screen is exceptional for the unusually large size of the dali marble stone and its prominently figured bands. The black, inky swirls stand in striking contrast to the creamy white tones of the stone, creating a pleasing and dramatic effect. Screens of this rarer large size could be placed on large painting tables or on the floor. A slightly smaller dali-marble inset screen with a huanghuali frame and stand is illustrated by Grace Wu in The Best of The Best: The MQJ Collection of Ming Furniture, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 2017, p. 504-505. See also a dal- marble and zitan table screen, formerly in the Ed and Nancy Rosenthal Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 14-15 September 2017, lot 945.
The present table screen is exceptional for the unusually large size of the dali marble stone and its prominently figured bands. The black, inky swirls stand in striking contrast to the creamy white tones of the stone, creating a pleasing and dramatic effect. Screens of this rarer large size could be placed on large painting tables or on the floor. A slightly smaller dali-marble inset screen with a huanghuali frame and stand is illustrated by Grace Wu in The Best of The Best: The MQJ Collection of Ming Furniture, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 2017, p. 504-505. See also a dal- marble and zitan table screen, formerly in the Ed and Nancy Rosenthal Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 14-15 September 2017, lot 945.