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Ɏ A RARE GILT AND LACQUERED IVORY SCHOLAR’S TABLE SCREEN, EARLY QING DYNASTY China, 17th-18th century. Of rectangular form with lobed upper corners, finely carved in high relief, to depict on one side a standing high-ranking scholar, dressed in loose-fitting robes, richly ornamented with pale red lacquer and gilt accents. His left hand, emerging from beneath the cascading sleeves, holding a scepter surmounted by a lingzhi fungus. His face, slightly turned, bearing an expression of serene contemplation, defined by narrow eyes, a broad nose, and full lips framed by a characteristic goatee. The hair neatly arranged and gathered into a small chignon. The reverse inscribed with a poem and carved with two maker’s seals. Inscriptions: to the reverse, Cidi bie Yandan, zhuangshi fa chong guan. Xi shi ren yi mo, jinri shui you han 此地別燕丹，壯士髮衝冠。昔時人已沒，今日水猶寒 [Here he parted with his friend, the warrior whose hair stood up from indignance. The heroes of the past have passed away, but the water today is just as cold]. Provenance: From The Sam and Myrna Myers Collection, Paris, France. Acquired between circa 1965-2012. Condition: Very good condition with surface wear and natural imperfections, including visible dark-toned fissures. Expected rubbing to gilding and lacquer. Occasional minute nicks and shallow surface scratches. The ivory surface with a fine, naturally developed, cream-colored patina, mostly to the reverse. Weight: 176.3 g (excl. stand), 468.5 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 19.6 cm (excl. stand), 21.3 cm (incl. stand) With an associated metal stand. (2) The inscription derives from the celebrated poem ‘Farewell at the Yi River’ by the eminent Tang dynasty poet Luo Binwang (640-684). Born in present-day Xi’an, he gained early recognition for his precocious literary talent and mastery of classical forms. According to tradition, he composed his best-known poem, ‘Ode to the Goose’, at the age of seven, which brought him early recognition at the imperial court. Although his life was relatively brief, subsequent dynasties from the Song through the Qing held his works in high esteem. ‘Farewell at the Yi River’ recounts the parting of a friend lost in battle after crossing the eponymous river, historically associated with the legendary warlord Xiang Yu (c. 232-202 BC). Over time, his legend became a symbol of loyal friendship and heroism, values central to Confucian thought that were actively promoted by the Qing court. Tang poetry, including compositions by Luo Binwang, carried an instructive purpose for scholars, studied and recited as an exemplar of moral, intellectual, and literary virtue, it played a significant role in cultivating patriotic sentiment and shaping a shared cultural identity. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 29 June 2009, lot 8101 Price: USD 7,320 or approx. EUR 9,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of pieced ivory table screens, 18th-19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form, manner of carving, and decoration with inscribed poems. Note the slightly larger size (25.5 cm) and that the lot comprises two screens. Trade Certificate: In accordance with new EU regulations that went into effect in January 2022, we have applied for a certificate to sell this item within the EU. We expect the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology to issue the certificate in 2-3 weeks. The item can only be shipped / handed over once the certificate has been issued. This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

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Ivory