An embroidered 'Hundred Birds' five-panel screen

Description:

China, second half of the 19th century
H. 198-213 cm, B. ca. 300 cm (Stickerei 126 x 17,5-33 cm)
Filigree-carved zitan and other woods; panels covered with silk satin (black); embroidery: silk, twisted threads, graduated shades of brown and white (faded colors), satin stitch. Five-panel screen, intricately carved from black wood featuring bamboo and fruit-bearing branches. The frame with leiwen pattern in low relief; small spherical feet at the bottom. The embroidered panels depict birds, butterflies, and flowers of the four seasons, including plums, chrysanthemums, camellias, roses, passionflowers, and peonies. The birds include rank symbols such as peacocks and golden pheasants, as well as smaller songbirds. The theme “The Hundred Birds Admire the Phoenix,” symbolizing the structure of imperial society, is a traditional motif in embroidery and painting. The carving and embroidery are of high quality in both execution and design. Five-panel screens with stepped panels were traditionally placed behind the throne.
From an old private collection in Berlin - Cf. a similar four-panel folding screen, Bonhams London, auction 14 May 2024, lot 565, sold for GBP 16,640 - Signs of age and wear; embroidery slightly faded, browned and rubbed; a few chips in the carving, particularly along the upper edge