AN EXTREMELY RARE AND FINELY CARVED ZITAN-FRAMED AND APPLIQUE-DECORATED 'HUNDRED BIRDS' PANEL QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

mounted with painted ivory, wood, coral, kingfisher feather, lapis lazuli, coral and various other hardstones, to depict a mass of pairs of birds including cranes, peacocks, herons, doves, thrushes, finches and various other song birds clustering around a gnarled prunus tree with hardstone blossoms rooted in lapis lazuli rocks issuing lingzhi and peonies, all on a light blue ground, within a zitan frame carved with bats (now missing) reserved on a key-fret ground, the top set with two stylised bronze swing handles

Sotheby's London, 10th June 1997, lot 163. 

As visible in the catalogue photo, the inlaid bats on the zitan border are all missing. Other general surface wear to the frame. There are some loose elements of the decoration to the interior, and minor staining.
"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."

Skilfully executed to create an intricate and detailed scene of numerous species of birds in a garden, elegant panels of inlaid precious materials were popular at the imperial court where they were hung in private rooms. The creation of this panel required several craftsmen proficient in various materials to collaborate, which reveals the close working relationship of the different workshops. Each precious material has been skilfully worked to form a vital piece of the overall design, from the carved hardstones and coral to the luxurious kingfisher feathers, which particularly enhances the luxurious nature of the panel.

Known as diancui, meaning ‘dotting the kingfisher’, the technique of incorporating kingfisher feathers in the decoration involved cutting each feather into the required shape, before attaching it with glue onto the surface. The intense blue colour of the feathers comes not from pigments in the feather itself, but in the way light is reflected through them. The most expensive and highest quality works traditionally used feathers imported from Cambodia and it is said that Chinese imperial demand for kingfisher feathers may have contributed to the wealth of the Khmer empire.

A panel similarly inlaid with various hardstones to depict birds is illustrated in situ in the Zhonghuagong (Palace of Double Brilliance) in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 259, together with a lacquered example from the Cuiyunguan (Hall of Green Cloud), pl. 262;  another was sold at Christie’s London, 11th September 2006, lot 73; and a vertical example was sold at Christie’s New York, 15th September 2009, lot 288.