CHINE, dynastie Qing. XVIIIe siècle

Lot 174
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Estimation :
40000 - 60000 EUR
Result without fees
Result : 41 600EUR
CHINE, dynastie Qing. XVIIIe siècle
Rare carved wood panel framing a brown lacquered panel decorated with inlays of hard stones, jade, carved precious woods, soapstone. The zitan frame is decorated with a carved motif of scrolls and bats. The handles in gilt bronze finely chiseled and taking the form of stylized dragons. 75 x 105 cm The craftsmen of the palace created a magnificent set of reverse trompe-l'oeil panels, of which we already know several examples presented in public sales, in museum collections and in private collections. This type of panel, known as "embellished", requires great skill and attention to detail. Indeed, the objects were reproduced in miniature in their original materials and placed against a flat surface. Skilled craftsmen from various workshops in the palace faithfully recreated miniature copies of precious objects from the imperial collection and then applied them to a lacquer background framed by finely carved precious zitan wood imitating a display shelf. This type of reverse trompe l'oeil paneling is a timeless testament to the Qianlong emperor's marked affection for innovative and technically challenging styles. These decorative panels were used to adorn the many private halls built under the direction of the emperor, who was a great collector and lover of the arts. He considered himself a Chinese scholar of the Han Dynasty and spent long hours in his studio practicing calligraphy, composing poetry and studying the objects in his collection. The two panels presented are adorned with a mixture of ancient and contemporary objects, such as, for the vertical panel, a rectangular cloisonne enamel incense burner with a wooden lid adorned with a lingzhi-shaped fretel jade, a jade bi-disc on a carved wooden base, and a zitan wood brush pot embellished with hard stone inlays, containing various brushes and artist's instruments. The second panel presents a horizontal decoration including a double vase with flowers, a fruit bowl, among other applications. This combination symbolizes the favorite objects that could be displayed in an elegant studio. This type of panel, representing a combination of ancient and contemporary objects, was already produced during the reign of the Kangxi emperor, but gained popularity during the Qianlong reign when it was made of a variety of materials.
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