Zitan Wood Table Screen with Cloisonne and Precious Stone Inlay, Eight Immortals Symbols & Shou Motif, Double-Sided, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Total height 42.5 cm (16.73 inches), screen width 36.7 cm (14.45 inches), Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Condition and Provenance: This screen is a complete original piece of furniture, entirely crafted from solid rosewood and inlaid with openwork boxwood panels. The rosewood has a fine, oily grain and a soft, naturally aged luster, with no cracks, insect damage, repairs, or signs of later repainting. The front of the screen has a copper enamel background, decorated with smooth turquoise enamel and intricately woven floral vine patterns using fine, flowing metal wire. The screen is inlaid with gemstones such as Hetian jade, mother-of-pearl, amber, and stained glass, featuring motifs including the Eight Immortals, five bats surrounding the character for longevity, and seasonal flowers; all inlays are intact, without any damage, missing pieces, or signs of later repairs. The back is painted with a landscape pattern in pure gold pigment on black lacquer, adorned with clear multi-layered gilding. The lacquer surface exhibits fine, naturally aged cracks, with no large areas of gold leaf peeling or signs of lacquer repair. The double-layered base is carved from solid rosewood; the lower base originally had openwork cloud-patterned feet, while the middle partition featured intricately carved openwork boxwood lotus patterns. All carved edges, spiral feet, and geometric patterns are intact, without any damage or broken tenons; all original tenon and mortise structures are sturdy and reliable, requiring no modern glue reinforcement. This piece was once decoration in the study of a branch of the Qing dynasty imperial family and circulated overseas during the Republic of China period. It is currently in the collection of a private collector in Virginia specializing in cloisonné and hardwood furniture. The world's major trading centers for wood carvings and cloisonné antiques are New York State and Vancouver. Description: This double-sided rosewood screen, decorated with cloisonné and multi-gemstone inlay, is a top-tier Qing dynasty imperial ornament. Featuring a double-sided design with distinctly different craftsmanship and themes, this screen blends various high-end traditional techniques: bronze casting, cloisonné, multi-gemstone inlay, black lacquer with gold accents, openwork rosewood, and boxwood carving. The screen frame and base are crafted from high-quality solid rosewood with a deep color and fine texture. The layered base is cleverly paired with openwork boxwood inlays, creating an elegant contrast between the deep black and warm yellow wood. The lower, arched, cloud-shaped rosewood feet provide stable support, while the central partition is carved with flowing lines and rich openwork layers depicting winding lotus patterns, fully showcasing the exquisite openwork wood carving craftsmanship of the Qing Dynasty. The front features a sky-blue cloisonné enamel base, decorated with tightly interwoven floral patterns. A purple glass "寿" (longevity) character is inlaid in the center, surrounded by five auspicious bats, further embellished with Hetian jade, seashells, and stained glass carvings of the Eight Immortals' implements and seasonal flowers. The Eight Immortals symbolize warding off evil and attracting wealth, while the five bats surrounding the "寿" character symbolize longevity and good health. The smooth gemstone texture complements the vibrant enamel background perfectly, while the fine and even metal wire work adheres to the classic standards of late Qing imperial cloisonné enamel. The reverse side features a black lacquer painting of a gilded landscape, depicting distant mountains, a tranquil lake, weeping willows, lotus ponds, thatched cottages, and birds in pure gold pigment. The composition is elegant and simple, imbued with a profound literati aesthetic. The subtle natural cracks on the lacquer surface are normal wear and tear over centuries, creating a striking visual contrast with the intricate and ornate patterns on the front and the serene and simple style of the back. This screen retains all original mortise and tenon joints intact, without any missing parts or signs of repair. Such excellent preservation of a double-sided cloisonné enamel screen inlaid with multiple gemstones is extremely rare. It is not only an important reference specimen for studying Qing dynasty imperial craftsmanship but also an ideal choice for elegant classical Chinese interior decoration, suitable for halls and studies, and a prized possession for museum exhibitions and overseas collectors creating royal art collections.

图片