China, 1736-1795. Masterfully inlaid on a misty sky-blue lacquer ground with 11 different materials: Spinach green jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, carnelian, turquoise, soapstone, coral, wood, stained bone and tortoise shell, altogether depicting a phoenix perched under a wutong tree, surrounded and worshipped by a myriad of birds including a peacock, magpies, cranes, pheasants, and mandarin ducks, some perched on the tree, some in flight and others resting on rockwork, amid peonies, lingzhi, and bamboo.

Provenance: UK trade. Formerly in a European private collection.
Condition: Displaying remarkably well, with no restoration or replacement work worth mentioning, making this one of the best-preserved wall panels from the Qianlong period ever to be recorded. Some old wear, expected age cracks to lacquer with associated losses, only two small pieces (!) of the many hundred inlays lost. Light scratches. The frame with few minuscule chips, expected minor age cracks with an associated small touchup to the upper right corner. The suspension is made from gilt-bronze and is original to frame and panel.

Dimensions: Panel size 67.5 x 100.5 cm, Size incl. frame 76 x 109 cm

With a well-carved zitan frame mounted with a gilt-bronze suspension in the form of finely incised lingzhi-shaped clouds.

Paintings and embroideries with phoenixes surrounded by various birds, including cranes, mandarin ducks, and pheasants, are a common motif in Chinese culture. Phoenixes are regarded as the king of the birds, as they represent power, virtue, and grace. This large and impressive inlaid panel is an outstanding example and possibly of imperial origin.

Literature comparison:
A related example of an inlaid screen was exhibited in Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court, Chinese University of Hong Kong Art Gallery, 28 February to 12 April 1987, no. 86.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s 11 July 2006, lot 73
Price: GBP 131,200 or approx. EUR 261,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An ivory and hardstone inlaid zitan hanging panel, Qianlong (1736-95)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related motif, material, frame, and size (81 x 118 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 339
Price: GBP 122,500 or approx. EUR 193,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare pair of jade and hardstone-inlaid wall screens, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related motif, material, and size (82.5 x 111 cm). Note that this is a pair.



乾隆時期大型《百鳥朝鳳》鑲寳漆屏，紫檀木框
中國，1736-1795年。以十一種不同材質巧妙鑲嵌在天藍色地漆面上：碧玉、青金石、孔雀石、紅玉髓、綠松石、皂石、珊瑚、木頭、彩色骨質、玳瑁，共同描繪了一隻鳳凰棲息在梧桐樹上，在牡丹、靈芝和竹子之間，孔雀、喜鵲、鶴、雉鷄和鴛鴦等無數鳥類圍繞，有的棲息在樹上，有的飛翔，有的立在岩石上。

來源：英國古玩交易，之前來自一個歐洲私人收藏。
品相：品相極佳，無顯著修復或更換，是有史以來保存最完好的乾隆時期掛屏之一。一些舊磨損，兩塊鑲嵌中丟失。 輕微劃痕。框架輕微缺損，右上角有小修。原裝懸扣由鎏金青銅製成。

尺寸：掛屏67.5 x 100.5 厘米，總 76 x 109 厘米

紫檀木框，銅鎏金靈芝形金屬掛扣。

《百鳥朝鳳》這個題材在繪畫和刺繡中經常出現。鳳凰被視為百鳥之王，至高至上，美好吉祥。這塊巨大且令人印象深刻的掛屏是一個傑出的例子，可能是御製。

文獻比較：
一件相近鑲嵌的屏 ，曾展於《Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court》，香港中文大學 中國文化研究所文物館，1987年2月28日至4月12日，編號86。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：佳士得，2006年7月11日，lot 73
價格：GBP 131,200（相當於今日EUR 261,000）
描述：乾隆硬石象牙紫檀木框掛屏
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、材料、木框和尺寸(81 x 118 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2013年11月7日，lot 339
價格：GBP 122,500（相當於今日EUR 193,000）
描述：十八/十九世紀漆嵌百寶御題詩進貢圖掛屏一對
專家評論：比較相近主題、材料和尺寸(82.5 x 111 厘米)。請注意此為一對掛屏。

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