Coromandel Screen Panel

Lacquered wood 12 panel folding screen. Incised designs painted with various colored lacs. Front with scenes in an imperial palace by the water, probably the Han Kung Ya Tsih(Distinguished gathering at the Han palace) or the Hua Yueh Lou of the emperor Ming Huang of the Tang dynasty. Ladies of the court and attendants with horses, rabbits, lapdogs, pet deer, peacocks and cranes. Figures shown playing battledore and shuttlecock, swinging, dancing, boating, riding horseback, playing music, playing chess, reading, painting and embroidering. Border with vases, ancient bronze vessels, jade ornaments, jewels, lingzhi (fungus of longevity), coral and baskets of fruit and flowers. Back of screen each leaf represents a separate picture of flowers, rocks, birds and especially types of pheasants. Border with mythological animals, fruits and ancient bronze vessels.