A large duan stone relief landscape in a European frame

Description:

China, 18th/19th century
62 x 39 cm / 82 x 37 cm
Dark purple-brown Duan stone, finely pierced and carved in deep relief. Depiction of an idealised Chinese mountain landscape with pavilions, pagodas, bridges and winding paths between bizarrely shaped rocks and old pine trees. Several small figures - scholars, servants and peasants with oxen - enliven the scenery and lend the composition a narrative depth.
From an old German private collection, according to the owners in the family since 1900
Cf. a similar work from the collection of Stephen Junkunc III (d. 1978), acquired from Alan Hartman (1930 - 2024), N.Y., sold at Sotheby's N.Y. 18.9.2024, - Slightly chipped