A KESI 'IMMORTALS' PANEL QING DYNASTY, 18TH / 19TH CENTURY

woven with a scene of Xiwangmu arriving on a phoenix, above a group of immortals and deities making their way towards a terrace to welcome her, including the Three Star Gods, the Eight Daoist Immortals, Dongfang Shuo, Liu Hai, Immortal Zhang with the Hehe Twins, and Magu and her attendant arriving on a raft, all in a rocky landscape representing the Isle of the Immortals, a crane with a tally in its mouth flying overhead, the details finely painted, framed

The colors are faded overall, and there are some small areas of separation between the colors, as well as minor smudging to the black pigments. There is a small hole above the cloud and some small areas of repair on the upper part of the panel, and small patches of staining overall. The panel is mounted on paper which has caused wrinkling to the edges and there is a small tear in the mount.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Scrolls like this would have been displayed during birthday celebrations.  It depicts Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West, who was believed to have peaches of immortality that ripened once every three thousand years. On that occasion, she would hold a banquet and invite all the immortals. Among her guests depicted in the present piece are Magu, Dongfang Shuo, Shoulao and the Eight Immortals, who all represent longevity. The other immortals assembled represent blessings, emoluments, wealth, marital bliss and harmony and the protection of children. The crane with a tally in its mouth is also a motif that represents longevity, and the peach and pine trees, and lingzhi further reinforce this wish.

A similar kesi hanging scroll from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 19th November 1984, lot 127; and another was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29th November 2005, lot 1599.