AN IMPERIAL LACQUER ZITAN SCREEN WITH 100 BLESSINGS QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the removable screen of rectangular form, carved through the lacquer surface with one hundred variations of the fu character, inlaid with crushed lapis lazuli creating a vibrant contrast against the dark brown lacquer ground, further inlaid with two bone seals, one circular reading gu xi tian zhi ('Heavenly Son of Rare Seventy') and the square seal reading Qianlong yuzhi, all set in a zitan frame carved with three additional blessings in the form of the pomegranate, citron and peach, above an apron with archaistic scrolls, the brackets carved with pine and prunus branches (2)

There are two old horizontal age cracks in the lacquer running across the screen. There are traces of lapis lazuli remaining in the carved characters. Some of the interior walls of the characters are chipped. But the overall condition remains quite good.
"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."

While the present screen may appear to have once been inlaid with hard stone or ivory, it was in fact intentionally inlaid with crush lapis lazuli. A similar screen is depicted in the background of one of the twelve court paintings titled, Twelve Beauties at Leisure Painted for Prince Yinzhen, the Future Yongzheng Emperor, included in the exhibition China: The Three Emperors, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2006, cat. no. 173 (fig.1).  In the painting, the screen has lapis lazuli shou characters reserved against the gold lacquer ground of a large room divider screen.

The design of baishou zi (one hundred shou or long-life characters) can also be found on Qianlong lacquer screens. For example see a lacquer screen illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Lacquer Wares of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 2006, pl. 60; another published in Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, pl. 33; and a third example sold in these rooms, 25th April 2004, lot 21.

The monumental Kangxi period blue and white jar, masterly painted with ten-thousand variations of the shou character, may have been the inspiration for screens of this type. The jar, included in the Royal Academy exhibition, op.cit., cat.no. 302, was made as a birthday gift for the Kangxi Emperor. It represents a tour de force of both the potters and the calligraphers working in the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. The number of ten-thousand represents an unlimited 'amount' and thereby is a symbol of eternal life.