CHINA, Qianlong period, 18th century - Lot 42

CHINA, Qianlong period, 18th century Rare and important scholar's screen Consisting of a rectangular celadon jade slab at its center, with a very rich, finely carved decoration in various reliefs and on each side of figures in landscapes, one side depicting a rider and his follower crossing a river amidst a mountainous landscape, the second side depicting two figures under a pine tree and a pavilion in a mountainous landscape. The stone is a light celadon color with white inclusions and very slight traces of rust. The set rests on a very rare presentation base in carved zitan wood, consisting of a quadrangular base and two rolled feet with geometric decoration in the archaizing taste and borders highlighted with Greek friezes, the foot carved with a decoration of several foaming waves scattering over rocks, the frame holding the jade screen presenting a profusion of clouds in imitation of lingzhi immortality mushrooms. The plaque is accompanied by its wooden carrying case with antique label bearing the handwritten inscription describing the plaque. Plate dimensions: 24 x 29.5 x 1.5 cm Total dimensions: 41.5 x 33.5 x 9 cm (Wear to base, insect holes) Provenance: Private collection from Nice, acquired by the parents of the current owners on the French art market. This rare scholar's screen is an exceptional example of imperial production during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (r.1735-1796). Scholar's screens, designed to be placed on pieces of furniture and in study studios within imperial palaces, were particularly appreciated by the elites of Chinese society, as well as by the emperors under the Qing dynasty. Often made from precious materials, scholarly objects were both utilitarian - enabling their owners to perfect their skills in the arts, such as music or calligraphy - and, for some, had a purely artistic function, intended for the contemplation and admiration of beauty. Our present display, consisting of a rectangular slab of celadon-coloured nephrite jade resting on a base of carved zitan wood - extremely precious materials - is the very definition of a demonstration of beauty and imperial craftsmanship. For several millennia, the word "yu" (玉) has been used to describe various types of hard, veined stone, including nephrite, found in the Xinjiang region. This stone, with its many color variations, has the particularity of a complex but precise cut. Jade is described as "pure" when its quasi-monochrome color approaches white. Emperor Qianlong, a great admirer of the arts and letters of earlier dynasties, believed that jade pieces should reflect the spirit of the paintings of the great masters of the past. He therefore commissioned the reproduction of certain classical paintings on jade screens, such as the famous painting Travelers in the Mountain by the renowned painter Guan Tong, from the Five Dynasties period (907-960 AD). The reproduction of lively scenes, often featuring scholars and their servants moving among trees and mountain peaks, was therefore particularly appreciated in this period. The accuracy of the carving, detailed on different levels with a perfectly mastered sense of perspective, makes our screen one of the finest examples on the market. The rarity of our screen is also conferred by the important carved zitan wood base on which the jade plate rests, and which in itself constitutes a veritable technical feat. The jade slabs used to make the scholar's screens could be mounted on supports made of lacquered wood, cloisonné enamel or ivory. Zitan wood (Pterocarpus santalinus), also known as red sandalwood due to its red and purplish undertones, was one of the rarest and most precious woods used in China, particularly during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). From the Qianlong reign onwards, this wood was used exclusively for palace furniture and scholarly objects. Our present pedestal is also carved in a mixture of styles representative of the Emperor's tastes: in the lower part, the feet use an archaic vocabulary - the Emperor Qianlong was a great admirer of the ancient arts, and brought masterpieces of the archaic periods up to date - with the