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Antique Face Screen in wood, decorated in penwork Chinoiserie. C. 1820.

Please click on images to enlarge |  slide show  | thumbnail index | high resolution

Description:
Ref:   104fs    http://hygra.com/face/104fs 

Antique Face Screen in wood, decorated in penwork Chinoiserie. C. 1820.

This is a delight. Nothing about it is real. Perspective is gone, reality has morphed into something whimsically magical by the time it reached England from the East. The pictures are an attempt to depict China and bear witness to the eagerness to understand its culture from travellers’ tales and drawings. The other-worldly quality comes through, albeit the lack of accuracy. Perhaps the art work is more charming on account of the imagination filling the gaps of first hand knowledge.

On one side two figures stand on a piece of land. The inspiration for this is probably the famed “floating islands” in Chinese gardens referred to in travellers’ accounts. The flowering tree is a botanical oddity, as are the tiny palms and the huge daisy. But then Cathay (the East) is full of miracles. There is another floating island in the distance.

Are the oriental figures, complete with pointed hat or pigtail on their way to a game?

On the other side there are two islands, one with a temple, the other, with a pavilion on a rock which looks ready to fly! A crowded boat sails on the water.  The scene is framed in an elaborate arrangement of stylised flora. This way of fine line drawing of leaves and flowers was popular in penwork, although it was not always combined with Chinoiserie.

The handle is in turned wood.

Origin: UK ;  Circa:1820  ; Materials: wood

Size:  Screen 23 cm wide (widest point) by18cm (centre); handle 23.4 cm long: 9 inches wide by 7 inches; handle 9.1   inches.

Condition:  Please refer to the above photographs for details of condition.

Keywords: Hygra.com, penwork, Chinoiserie, Antique box, Antique Face Screen, fan, fire screen.

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Are the oriental figures, complete with pointed hat or pigtail on their way to a game?

Please click on images to enlarge |  slide show  | thumbnail index |

Enlarge Picture

On one side two figures stand on a piece of land. The inspiration for this is probably the famed “floating islands” in Chinese gardens referred to in travellers’ accounts. The flowering tree is a botanical oddity, as are the tiny palms and the huge daisy. But then Cathay (the East) is full of miracles. There is another floating island in the distance.

 

On the other side there are two islands, one with a temple, the other, with a pavilion on a rock which looks ready to fly! A crowded boat sails on the water.  The scene is framed in an elaborate arrangement of stylised flora. 

This way of fine line drawing of leaves and flowers was popular in penwork, although it was not always combined with Chinoiserie.

Enlarge Picture

Please click on images to enlarge |  slide show  | thumbnail index |

A crowded boat sails on the water.

This is the Cathay fantasy world: a concoction of European belief.

Enlarge Picture

 

Enlarge Picture

On the other side there are two islands, one with a temple, the other, with a pavilion on a rock which looks ready to fly! A crowded boat sails on the water.  The scene is framed in an elaborate arrangement of stylised flora. This way of fine line drawing of leaves and flowers was popular in penwork, although it was not always combined with Chinoiserie.

Please click on images to enlarge |  slide show  | thumbnail index |

Enlarge Picture

 

The turned handle is exquisite. It is turned close grain hardwood.  It shows use wear. A patina a history of life.

There are traces of gesso and gilt.  

Enlarge Picture

Please click on images to enlarge |  slide show  | thumbnail index |

 

All text and images and linked images are © 1999-2015 Antigone Clarke and Joseph O'Kelly. If you require any further information on permitted use, or a licence to republish any material, email us at copyright@hygra.com

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