Mother-of-pearl mounted and lacquered wood Chinese screen

Exemplary of the quality and skill of antique Chinese craftmanship, this beautiful four-panelled screen was made towards the end of the nineteenth century. The principal decoration consists of a series of wondefully elaborate and intricate scenes of birds and flowers in mother-of-pearl inlay. The left two scenes show small birds scattering before a pair of majestic and mythical-looking birds of prey, and all four compositions combine a pleasing contrast with the white and metallic tones of the mother-of-pearl within the rich black background, with an excellent economy of space.

Each of these scenes is framed within a red lacquer inset, and the outer structure consists of four hinged carved wood frame panels, featuring again scenes of swooping birds and flowers. As much a work of art as a work a furniture, this screen would make an enviable addition to any clean, beautiful, or vibrant interior space.

Open: 176cm high x 230cm wide x 2.5cm in depth.

Closed: 176cm high x 57.5cm wide x 10cm in depth.