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Chinese Reverse-Painted 3 panel Table Screen, ca. 1960s stock #JWHglasScree
A mid-20th-century Chinese reverse-painted glass table screen, hand-painted in three panels with refined court-lady scenes. The painting is soft, detailed, and entirely executed on the reverse of the glass in the traditional Canton/Hong Kong workshop manner. The carved hardwood frame features openwork cresting and a shaped apron, and the screen folds smoothly for display. In excellent overall condition with light wear to the frame consistent with age, it measures 14.5" wide (opened) and 12.75" high.
June’s Thoughts What has always drawn me to these mid-century reverse-painted screens is the gentle, almost lyrical quality of the faces. Earlier examples can be more austere, and later ones tend toward bright, synthetic color, but pieces from this period often achieve a calmer balance. The scenes of women reading, playing the qin, or enjoying a quiet moment were popular themes, yet the handwork still varies a great deal from one studio to another. This one has particularly good brush control in the robes and foliage—small details that reward a closer look and make it a lovely accent for a desk, console, or scholar’s corner. |
