A pair of ivory-inlaid lacquer panels and wood stands, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795)

15 avril 2020

A pair of ivory-inlaid lacquer panels and wood stands, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795)

Lot 3667. A pair of ivory-inlaid lacquer panels and wood stands, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); with stands 143.1 by 85.2 cm., 56 3/8 by 33 1/2 in. Estimate 1,000,000 — 1,500,000 HKD. Lot Sold 1,240,000 HKD (126,461 EUR). Photo Sotheby’s

each of rectangular form and decorated in a symmetrical fashion to the other, finely inlaid with stained ivory depicting a large phoenix perched on jagged rockwork in the foreground with one leg slightly bent, its plumage meticulously detailed, flanked by small floral sprays issuing from the ground, fifteen smaller birds of various breeds including a crane, a mandarin duck, a wagtail and an oriole depicted with outstretched wings flying towards the central pheonix, all against a background lacquered in white transmuting to a pale turquoise on both ends, mounted in a wooden frame and stand elaboratedly carved with a stylised shou character, foliate scrolls and ruyi blooms, the reverse of the panel painted in gilt with eight bats hovering amongst stylised cloud swirls.

Note: This pair of panels is meticulously carved in high relief with the auspicious motif bainiao chaohuang (‘hundred birds courting the phoenix’), which symbolises the relationship between the emperor, embodied in the figure of the phoenix and considered the king of birds, and his officials. The birds depicted in this scene represent the luxutu (‘Picture of the Five Relationships’); the cranes symbolise the relationship between father and son, mandarin ducks the relationship between husband and wife, wagtails the relationship between brothers, and orioles that between friends.

A lacquer screen inlaid with ivory and precious stones with three cranes, in the east-end room of the Palace of Double Brilliance, is illustrated in situ in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 259, together with another screen of this type, pl. 262. For an example sold at auction, see a pair sold twice in our New York rooms, 21st May 1971, lot 409, and 10th November 1979, lot 317, and again at Christie’s New York, 29th March 2006, lot 254. .