Chinese School. Qing Dynasty (possibly 18th century)

Ink and colour on paper; depicting a Manchu/Chinese Lady, possibly a concubine, wearing Han Chinese Dress and adjusting her hairstyle beside a circular mirror, a gu-shaped vase, and a spray of prunus; unsigned but with two red seals (some damage). Including frame 76.5 x 81.5cm (30 x 32in). Sold for £4,560

Provenance: Ex. The Property of a Lady. Said to have been acquired in Peking at some stage during the conclusion of The Boxer Rebellion, 1900.

Note: Significantly, this portrait is virtually the mirror image to a similar composition from The Forbidden City (see 'The Qianlong Emperor/Treasures from The Forbidden City' by Zhang Hongxing/ISBN1901663779, pages 106 and 107). Of course, it would be tempting to postulate that the portrait, offered here, was indeed the same sitter as the beauty illustrated in Zhang Hongxing's catalogue. Whilst Zhang may not be specific as to the identity of the elegant lady from the Forbidden City, he states that she may be a Concubine, inferring that her role points to a relationship with The Qianlong Emperor.

Whatever the case, both portraits illustrate a remarkable parity, event to the extent of the Lady's dress, manicure and cosmetic accoutrements. Interestingly, however, the bamboo and prunus, prominent in this lot's composition, are replaced in the Forbidden City example by a combination of bamboo and lotus. In each case, this iconography is likely to have had made some specific reference to the sitter.

Bonhams. Chinese and other Asian Works of Art, 9 Dec 2008. Knightsbridge. Copyright © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved