AN UNUSUAL INLAID ZITAN 'CABINET' PANEL QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD, DATED TO 1697

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of rectangular form raised on hoofed feet comprising of two panels mounted as double doors creating a trompe l'oeil effect of an actual cabinet, enclosed by a wide inlaid border, the panels elaborately inlaid with seal script in gilt bronze with verses from the Daobaozhen ('Large Treasure Verse') and a dated inscription corresponding to 1697, each panel enclosed by a finely carved border of scrolling floral and leafy motifs with beaded edges, all mounted within a frame with a bevelled edge, enclosed by a wide border finely inlaid in precious stones with birds in flight or perched, butterflies and flowering branches of hibiscus, prunus, magnolia, bamboo, crab apple and chrysanthemum, further enclosed with a richly carved beaded border wth floral scrolls matching the border of the double doors

The overall condition is very good. The panel doors have some minor loss to the gilt-wire inlay along the 3 long vertical splits to the wood. The hinges appear to be of the period. There is a 3 cm loss to the top left corner of the left panel and a 1 cm fill to the lower right corner of the right panel.The wood of the frame may be tielimu. The hardstone inlay is in very good condition with little loss. A few of the leaves on the lower part of the frame have fallen out. Other areas of loss have been replaced by painted wood. There is some minor loss to the edges of the frame. The frame has 2 pairs of filled 4 cm mortises along the left and right lower half in the floral scroll area (there is nothing on the top section). It is interesting to note that the carving of the floral scroll extends all the way to the back side of the frame on the left, right and top.
"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."

The Dabaozhen ('Large Treasure Verse') is advice from the author of the verse, Zhang Yungu (c. 638), to the Tang emperor Li Shimin (599-649) concerning the duties of good governance, focusing on the relationship between the ruler and his subject whereby the ruler should take the attitude of a servant to his people. Zhang Yungu initially found favour with the emperor and was appointed Minister of Justice. However in 631, Li Haode was sentenced to death for a crime, a sentence which Zhang appealed to the emperor and was thus commuted. When the emperor was later informed that Zhang and Li were in fact old friends and that Zhang had even been seen playing chess with Li in prison, the enraged emperor ordered Zhang's execution which he subsequently regretted. As a result, changes in legislation made it more difficult to carry out executions.

Dated to the 15^th day of the fifth month in the 36^th year of the reign of Kangxi (corresponding to 1697), this double panel may have been placed in the Yuanmingyuan. According to an imperial document comprising poems written by the Yongzheng emperor and complied by the Qianlong emperor early in his reign, the Yongzheng emperor wrote a poem in his study in the Yuanmingyuan in which one line mentions the Dabaozhen, 'the Dabaozhen was hanging on the wall of the hall'. While it is not certain that this line refers to the present panel, it reveals the high regard in which the Dabaozhen was held by the rulers of China. The Yongzheng emperor hung quotations from the Dabaozhen on the walls of his study as well as possessing a seal inscribed 'It is difficult to be an Emperor' from the Dabaozhen.

No other panels of comparable size appear to have been published; compare an imperial lacquer zitan screen inlaid with one hundred blessings with lapis lazuli in related seal script, sold in these rooms, 11^th April 2008, lot 2856. For a cabinet similarly inlaid with birds and flowering branches with precious stones attributed to the 17^th century, see one from the Arthur Sackler collection sold at Christie's New York, 1^st December 1994, lot 181.