A SUPERBLY CARVED MINIATURE FIVE-PANEL IVORY SCREEN MING DYNASTY, 16TH / 17TH CENTURY

the front masterfully carved with a continuous scene from the legendary gathering at the Lanting Pavilion of eight scholars seated on a river bank outside an open pavilion and surrounded by craggy rockwork and knotty pine trees, grasping and drinking with contentment 'floating' wine cups placed on the water upstream by attendants filling them from jars, the reverse with alternating panels of two poetic inscriptions from the Lanting ji written in caoshu ('grass script') in relief, and three baskets of flowers filled with magnolia, cherry blossoms, peonies, camellias, prunus, hibiscus respectively, the ivory well patinated to a warm golden tone

Acquired in Paris between the 1970s and the early 90s.

Two panels are detached from the other 3 panels. Apart from some small minor nicks, there is a 0.6 cm chip to the top edge above one of the poetic inscriptions as well as a 0.4 cm bruise below one of the flower baskets, but almost all of the carving has been well preserved. The screen has an attractive patina of a honey-brown tone.
"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 scene adorning this screen is carved after the famous painting, the 'Lanting Gathering' by the Northern Song scholar and painter, Li Gonglin (1049-1106). It depicts the famous Lanting (Orchid Pavilion) gathering near Shanyin, Zhejiang province in celebration of the Spring Purifying Ceremony, in the ninth year of the Yonghe reign (AD 353). Forty-two guests were invited to participate in a joyous poetry competition, which condemned them to drink wine if they failed to come up with a poem. This screen closely follows the original in its horizontal composition and placement of scholars scattered amongst the rocky grove with a stream winding through the centre. It is remarkable for the intricately carved detail and sense of three-dimensionality that has been achieved through masterful undercutting, as seen in the outlines of the figures, trees, flower baskets and inscription.

To the compilation of the poems composed on the occasion, the master calligrapher Wang Xizhi (AD c.307-c.365) wrote a preface, Lanting xu (Ode to the Orchid Pavilion), reflecting his feelings about life and death. Wang considered it his finest work and, to this day, it is considered the best example of xingshu (running script) calligraphy, thus making Wang the 'father of calligraphers' in Chinese history. The reverse of the screen is carved with a poem from Lanting shi er shou ('Two Poems of the Orchid Pavilion') by Sun Cho (AD 314-371) who attended the gathering and composed two poems as well as the colophon of the Lanting ji.