AN EIGHT-PANEL BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN INLAID WOOD SCREEN EARLY 20TH CENTURY

each vertical panel inset with five blue and white plaques, the rectangular and circular plaques delicately painted with scenes of birds, the square plaques painted with detailed scenes of sericulture and agriculture, the surrounding frame pierced with fruiting grape vines and squirrels

The Estate of Thomas Buechner (former director of the Brooklyn Museum and founding director of the Corning Museum of Glass), and thence by descent.

The panels are in generally good condition overall. There are areas of losses and repairs to the openwork aprons, and minor scattered chips to the edges.
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.

The scenes of sericulture and agriculture depicted on the square plaques inset in this screen are based on a set of paintings by Jiao Bingzhen (active 1689–1726) depicting common scenes in the south of China.  On order of the Kangxi emperor, these paintings were cut as woodblocks in 1696 and served as inspiration for decorating porcelain, weaving and painting.