Antique
Face Screen in silk with painted flowers and birds.
Circa 1820.
This
screen is very much in the Chinese tradition. Bold colours, finely
painted feathers, arrangements which care more about artistic harmony
than perspective.
It could have been painted in China and mounted in
England, or skillfully painted here imitating the Cathay style, which
was in great vogue in the late 18th and early 19th
century.
The exotic birds perch on branches of fruit blossom, while over
them undulate flowers which look slightly hybrid-is it a peony? A
significant flower for the Chinese, the Queen of flowers, it symbolises
wealth and distinction.
The small daisy-like blooms could be a variety
of species. The fringe is silk.
