A beadwork and appliqué figural panel, probably German, Braunschweig 18th century

depicting a seated Chinese elder on a elaborate golden chair, with a vase of flowers on a plinth behind, and a standing younger male figure holding up a circular beaded mirror, the figures applied with textile sections, brocade, chintz and silk, leather, suede, coral, feathers, polychrome and gold coloured beads, and further embellished with strings of beads and paste jewels,  the faces and hands painted on silk and applied, against a ground of shades of bronze coloured glass beads in the upper section interspersed with a stylised motif in black, white, blue and yellow, the lower section applied with cut floral metal sequins against a copper coloured backing, with a highly stylised Chinese calligraphy character top right, mounted in a later giltwood and glazed frame

The most distinctive characteristic of decorative craftsmanship in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany  is the use of beadwork or `coral' work for table tops. Often exported towards other countries, these were then further integrated in local table structures. The most prominent maker of these highly decorative bead work panels was Dutch born Johann Michael von Selow. He worked under the Royal patronage of Duke Carl I of Braunschweig. Only few examples of this colourful beadwork exist, as the workshop only existed less than twenty years (1755 - 1772). Probably the best known example of this type of work is the salon of the Chinese Palace at the Oranienbaum complex of palaces (now Lomonsov) near St. Petersburg. Also see a Lombard table with a top in this technique, sold as lot 35, in these Rooms, 8th December 2004.