A rare imperial bamboo-inlaid and zitan-framed ‘landscape’ screen Qing dynasty, Qianlong period | 清乾隆 紫檀嵌竹山水圖、百壽紋雙面插屏

Wood inlaid screens, either hanging or set on a trestle stand as the present example, became popular pieces of furniture in the early Qing dynasty. Often displayed in pairs or in sets, these panels adorned many halls and rooms in the private quarters of the Forbidden City. Conceived as highly engaging three-dimensional paintings, this type of screens began to be produced in the Kangxi reign, but peaked in popularity during the Qianlong period, when they were made in a variety of media. The most sophisticated examples were made in the Zaobanchu (Imperial Palace Workshop), where skilled artisan often collaborated to create the most innovative works of art for the imperial court.

The lavish use of the precious jichimu, and the frame of zitan, the most valued timber available to wood carvers and furniture makers, makes this screens particularly special. Zitan was the favoured timber of the Ming and Qing court, and its long growth period and limited availability made it especially valuable. The subtle and deep lustre of the wood and its characteristic chestnut colour, which turns purplish-black after prolonged exposure to air, was fully exploited on this panel through its contrast with the lighter jichimu and coloured background.

Intended to be viewed from both sides, the reverse of the present screen is decorated with hundred gilt shou characters, a symbol of longevity and a popular decoration at the Qing court.

Compare a panel with a landscape carved from hongmu, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, accession no. 故00210623. See also two table screens inlaid mainly in zitan, also in the Palace Museum, accession nos 故00209206 and 故00209215; and a much larger throne screen illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 201.n 

accession no. 故00210623: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=2b0286d5462a4e68aa5bf0d6844def48

accession no 故00209206: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=618d76b1c4cf49b8945e862e02395f1f

accession no故00209215: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=0bb13cac3b7644cc937fe047dbe12c2b

Compare also an important zitan framed, jade and wood inlaid Imperial 'landscape' panel, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, sold in these rooms, 11th December 2020, lot 90.

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嵌木掛屏及插屏流行於清代早期，多數成雙或成組，紫禁城內廳堂房閣時有見之。 

掛屏浮雕立體，栩栩如生，康熙始見，乾隆盛行，有見以各式材質製者，以造辦處御製為佳，成品匠心獨運，力求創新。 

但凡木匠及家具藝匠，均尊紫檀木為至珍，本屏用罕有雞翅木嵌鑲貴重紫檀，更顯不凡。紫檀材稀，極為珍罕，深受明清宮廷所喜，但生長週期漫長，是以可用之材有限。紫檀久置色深，黝黑泛紫，藝匠利用其色澤沉穩，與雞翅木之淺色、以及彩色背景形成鮮明對比。 

本插屏屬雙面設計，背面飾清宮常見之百壽紋。 

參考北京故宮藏嵌紅木掛屏（故 00210623），另可比較該院藏兩面嵌紫檀插屏（故 00209206、故 00209215），或一座尺寸碩大的屏風，收錄在《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集．明清家具》，香港，2002，圖版201。

accession no. 故00210623: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=2b0286d5462a4e68aa5bf0d6844def48

accession no 故00209206: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=618d76b1c4cf49b8945e862e02395f1f

accession no故00209215: https://digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=0bb13cac3b7644cc937fe047dbe12c2b

另比一件清乾隆紫檀嵌黃楊木雕泛舟圖掛屏，售於巴黎蘇富比2020年12月11日，編號90