A KESI 'IMMORTALS' PANEL QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY |

skilfully woven with great attention to detail with a celestial scene depicting the Peach Festival, the Queen Mother of West rendered holding a peach and flanked by two attendants atop cloud scrolls, above a group of Daoist immortals gathered on a balustraded balcony and honoring Xi Wangmu, including Shoulao supporting a large peach with both hands, all above tempestuous waters, the lower section of the panel further decorated with groups of figures honoring Xi Wangmu and holding various tributes, the ethereal scene decorated with lush vegetation of tall trees and jagged rockwork

This kesi depicts the Peach Festival, a popular Daoist theme associated with the birthday celebration of Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. According to legend, this event only took place in the Western Paradise once every 3000 years. Here the immortals are shown in the Turquoise Pond (Yaochi) on Mount Kunlun. At the top two maidens accompany Xiwangmu who rides a phoenix, and is greeted by the Three Star Gods and various immortals and their attendants. The auspicious message of this theme made panels of this type suitable for presentation at birthdays. While kesi panels decorated with this motif are relatively common, examples of such large size are unusual; a slightly smaller panel was sold at Christie’s New York, 22nd March 2012, lot 1627; two much smaller examples were sold in our London rooms, the first 13th July 2005, lot 161, and the second, 11th May 2011, lot 137; and a third was sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2012, lot 132. See also a panel depicting Xiwangmu being greeted by female immortals in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the exhibition Masterpieces of Chinese Silk Tapestry and Embroidery in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1998, cat. no. 21.