Screen, China, Qing dynasty, late 18th century.

Six-leaf folding screen, China, Qing dynasty, late 18th century.
Black and gold lacquer.
Exhibits wear and wear marks consistent with age and use.
Mr. and Mrs. John Higgins, and later by descent.
Measurements: 245 x 42.5 cm (each sheet); 240 x 378 cm (total).

Provenance:
Thelma Morgan (1904-1970) during her marriage to Marmaduke Furness, 1st Viscount Furness.
C. G. Sloan and Co., Washington D.C., 1936.

This six-sheet screen displays a vast and detailed landscape scene. Mountains, rivers, pavilions, trees, and human figures in various activities are interwoven in a narrative universe of almost infinite character.
The black lacquer background serves as a support for the delicate golden motifs. The stroke, subtle and precise, gives the composition great depth and brilliance. The work is not limited to ornamentation, but also offers a profound cultural and symbolic reading.
The quality of the piece is evident in the breadth of the decorated surface and in the narrative density of the scenes. Each element is rendered with great attention to detail and compositional harmony, from the stepped roofs of the pavilions to the figures walking along paths or crossing bridges. The borders of the screen, profusely ornamented with floral motifs and secondary scenes, reinforce the aesthetic unity and magnificence of the whole.

In imperial China, screens had a multiple function: practical, by dividing spaces; aesthetic, by combining visual and decorative arts; and symbolic, by reflecting the social status and taste of their owners. With its black and gold lacquer of exceptional workmanship, this screen must have been part of the furnishings of an aristocratic residence, manifesting both luxury and cultural sophistication.