A RARE GILT-LACQUERED WOOD AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID TABLE SCREEN QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the circular panel inlaid in various shades of iridescent mother-of-pearl, depicting two soldiers standing before two officials on a terrace, with an attendant on the side minding the horse, set with a seven characters inscription at the top right of the panel reading gong Luocheng huang wei zhenggong ('Attack on Luocheng and the Rivalry of Huang and Wei') displayed within a black lacquer frame supported on a gilt-wood gnarled blossoming prunus tree set with a pair of cranes and a pair of rabbits on the reverse

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

The inscription corresponds to the title of the chapter 62 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Luo Guanzhong's historical novel of the 14th century, and one of the four most celebrated classics of the Chinese literature. The scene depicts the rivalry between the generals Huang Zhong and Wei Yan.