IMPORTANT PARAVENT À DOUZE FEUILLES EN LAQUE DE COROMANDEL DYNASTIE QING, ÉPOQUE KANGXI |

à décor ploychrome sur fond de laque noire, décoré sur une face d’une vue panoramique du lac de l'Ouest Hangzhou, figurant les six ponts de Su Dongpo, le paysage encadré par une frise à décor d’objets de lettrés, de jades et de vases entre deux petites frises de dragons kui et de rinceaux de lotus, le verso orné d’une large scène de palais au milieu de laquelle un haut dignitaire est entouré de sa cour, l’ensemble entouré d’une large bordure à décor d’éventails décorés de poèmes sur fond or entre deux frises de dragons kui et de branchages de prunus (12)

This coromandel screen is impressive for its size, coloring and details. Overall areas of losses to the lacquer on each panel both back and front. Overall areas where the lacquer has been repainted, reinforced, and retouched on each panel back and front. Losses to the lacquer along the edges of each panel on both sides. Later hinges added. Areas of restoration to the black lacquer on the first and last panel both back and front. Some of the faces of the figures have been redrawn.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Landscape-themed screens often depict well-known scenes of China, such as the Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, The Nine Bends of Wuyi River, and in the case of the present lot, a view of the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Nicole Brugier notes in Les Laques de Coromandel, Paris, 2015, p.120 that "Hangzhou was a popular tourist destination in China since time immemorial. Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province, situated 200 km south- west of Shanghai. From 1127 to 1279 it was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty and was famous for its beauty. The old city was built alongside the West Lake, and in the 14th century had the largest population in the world and was a famous site for tourism. It was considered to be the place of retreat for retired civil servants, who engaged in meditation, chrysanthemum cultivation or cricket breeding. Marco Polo visited and admired the lake in the late 13th century, as did Ibn Battuta, the great Berber explorer, in 1346. The lake had a circumference of 15 kilometres and was flanked by mountains on one side and by the city on the other. In order to regulate the flow of water the lake was divided into three parts by two dikes and six bridges, all of which bear or bore poetic names. There are also four islands, on which were built summer pavilions, such as The Island of The Three Lakes and The Island of The Reflection of the Moon. Some of the original pagodas still survive, together with the temple of the “Needle”. The wall seen at the bottom of this screen is no longer in existence. This great city was once known for the magnificence of its public buildings, for the beauty of its bridges, its triumphal arches, and for its great number of canals.", ibid., pp. 120-126.

The Marquis de Fortia d'Urban visited Hangzhou in 1840 and provided his impressions of the city in his Description de la Chine et des États tributaires de l'Empereur, writing that “The lake is famous in the whole Empire for its enchanting views and wonderful walks in dreamy landscapes. [...]. All its banks are covered with hamlets, gardens, nice houses, Triumphal arches made of stone and pavilions of all shapes. There are even several imperial dwellings, in one of which the famous Emperor Kangxi stayed when he visited the southern provinces of his empire.', ibid., p. 126. 

Several large Coromandel screens depicting Views of the West Lake and similarly dated to the Kangxi period are known. One example is illustrated in W. de Kesel and Greet Dhont, Coromandel Lacquer Screens, Gent, 2002, fig 48. Other screens are published in Nicole Brugier, Les Laques de Coromandel, Paris, 2015: one coromandel screen but with ten panels belonging to Anne Duchange, is illustrated ibid., p. 121; another screen with twelve panels but of smaller size  from the Brugier Collection is illustrated ibid., pp. 122-123.  Another screen featuring a view of the West Lake, formerly in the Collection of Louise C. Morgan, sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 29th May to 1 June 1974, lot 571, while a screen with a scene from Hangzhou was sold at Christie's New York, 20th October 2004, lot 448.