A RARE IMPERIAL POLYCHROME IVORY PAINTED PANEL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD |

the rectangular panel intricately carved with stained ivory in varying levels of relief and openwork with an idyllic riverside landscape, depicting in a distance two ladies peeping out from elaborate fenced pavilions with latticed windows and balconies, looking beyond a small island across with a trio of musicians beside a further pavilion, performing to two scholars seated by a tall rock sheltered amongst overhanging willows, in the foreground a group of ladies, boys and attendants engaged in various pursuits in two sampan boats docked adjacent each other beside cragged rocks with further trees, on the left a pair of mandarin ducks at swim, all set against a background of distant mountains disappearing into the misty sky painted on paper, above a flowing river glazed in glass simulating water reflections

An English private collection, Surrey.

The panel is in overall good condition, though some of the fragile branches and edges of the architecture have small losses. As visible in the catalogue photo, there are small tears at the top left and top right of the paper. Other general surface wear, scratches and bruises.
"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."

Intricately carved in ivory with a wondrous scene framed against the painted landscape, this sumptuous panel represents the height of ivory workmanship in China perspective The mountainous riverbank scene is occupied by animated figures, all skilfully picked out with individual precision, with an added sense of luxury created through the twisting forms of the trees, rocks and boats. Other Imperial ivory screens of this technique from the Qing court collection, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, are illustrated in Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2001, nos 189-196.  See also an ivory panel depicting scenes of the Eastern Sea with the Eight Immortals, sold in these rooms, 2nd December 1997, lot 67; another magnificent panel with a scene inspired by the landscape of the Whampoa (Huangpu) region, Guangdong, sold in our London rooms, 12th July 2006, lot 74; and a panel within a zitan frame, depicting a busy village scene, from the Muwen Tang collection, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st December 2009, lot 1954.