A rare tianqi and qianjin lacquer three-leaf polychrome screen


18th centuryThe screen consisting of six panels, with a smaller and larger one set within each leaf, each smaller panel skilfully incised and gilt with a phoenix in flight amidst blossoming peonies and scrolling foliage, each larger panel with a lobed medallion enclosing a writhing dragon pursuing the flaming pearl amidst stylised clouds above a square cartouche enclosing a standing qilin beneath pine trees and jagged rocks, all reserved on a honeycomb diaper ground filled with flower heads and wan motifs, enclosed within a key-fret border and further cartouches alternating with bats and shou characters. Overall 198 x 194cm (78 x 76 3/8in)
|十八世紀 填漆戧金團龍紋開光瑞獸圖三開屏風Provenance: Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 1 March 1957, lot 216A distinguished European private collection, and thence by descent來源： 1957年3月1日於紐約Parke-Bernet Galleries拍賣，拍品216號顯貴歐洲私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今The six panels would have probably been set within the front doors of a pair of lacquered cabinets made for a high-ranking member of the Qing Court, possibly a member of the Imperial family. Compare a polychrome tianqi and qiangjin lacquer cabinet, Wanli mark and of the period, from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, vol.II, Hong Kong, 2002, pl.172. The close Imperial association is demonstrated in the symbolism of the phoenix and peonies and dragon pursuing the flaming pearl as well as the impressive large scale and type of craftmanship typical of Imperial works of art. The depictions of the shou characters and bats represent the wish for longevity.Compare the decoration of phoenixes on polychrome lacquer tianqi and qiangjin boxes, Qianlong, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2006, pls.76-77. See also a polychrome tianqi and giangjin lacquer display cabinet, Yongzheng, and another related display cabinet, Qianlong in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, vol.II, Hong Kong, 2002, pls.215 and 222.