A very rare set of four Chinese carved hardwood temple doors, later converted to a screen or room divider. Open trelliswork over densely carved panels to the front, the reverse left plain and smooth throughout. 232cm high x 230cm wide when fully opened. (91.3 x 90.5 inches). China, Late 19th Century circa 1880.
This large, impressive and extremely decorative screen delivers instant impact and will have a transformative effect on any environment.
The clean curvilinear geometry of the latticework has a bold, modernist aesthetic that compliments and contrasts with the sinuous, flowing forms of the carved lower sections. Crafted from Elm, the trelliswork particularly has an exceptionally beautiful grain. The whole piece has a warm, variegated toffee colour, every inch covered in a rich and authentic patina.
The central two carvings feature auspicious iconography: an elephant carrying a vase* on the central left panel and a dragon over a carp** to the central right, and are flanked at both ends by Temple Lions (Foo Dogs). The carving itself is dense, deep and skilfully executed, with a strong sense of rhythm, playfulness and bags of charm.
Condition is as to be expected, the whole surface heavily patinated and with typical scratches, nicks and knocks throughout. Some thin surface splits to the carved panels (these don’t go to the back). One piece of trellis has a chip missing at the back (completely invisible from the front), otherwise strong, solid and with only superficial wear and tear.
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*An elephant bearing a vase represents the phrase taiping youxiang (“When the elephant presents itself, the universe is at peace”). In Chinese, the words for “vase” and “peace” sound the same, so images of an elephant with a vase is shorthand for the universe being at peace.
**The dragon and carp illustrates the story of the Dragon Gate. According to tradition, a carp that could swim upstream and then leap the falls of the Yellow River at Dragon Gate (Longmen) would be transformed into a dragon. The myth is referenced in the proverbial idiom "a carp leaping the Dragon Gate", meaning a sudden uplift in one's social status. (Source: Wikipedia).
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