Empress Dowager Cixi Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period, Dated in Accordance with 1897

depicting five iron-red bats (wufu) hovering in mid-air grasping either a spray of peach, lingzhi, chrysanthemum, iris or pine, dated Guangxu dingyou mengdong xiahuan yubi (‘Painted on the last week of the tenth month of the dingyou year of Guangxu’ [in accordance with 1897]) on the upper right with three seals Dayazhai (‘Hall of Great Elegance’), Jingrong zhuhe (‘Glory of the mirror and harmony of the candle’), and further impressed with  the seals Cixi Huangtaihou zhi bao (‘Seal of the Empress Dowager Cixi’) in the upper centre and Zhaoyang qingfen on the lower left, followed by a callygraphy signed Wu Shumei jingti (‘Written in respect by Wu Shumei’), together with Edward T. Chow seal Shizhou shisishisun yanzhi zhencang (‘Collected by Yanzhi the fourteenth grandson of Shizhou’) on the lower right

Apart from some occasional stains and expected tarnishing, the overall condition is very good.
"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."