| Jadeite
screen insert, Lapis lazuli miniature
mountain
| |
|
|
Lapis
lazuli miniature
mountain |
|
|
The screen insert
was one of the most representative screen
types found at the Ch'ing dynasty court.
It is a kind of screen with a stand,
in which the base and the screen frame
together form a whole. A groove is carved
into the frame and a corresponding ridge
rendered along the edge of the screen
for a perfect fit. Screen inserts come
in a variety of sizes. Larger ones were
placed inside and in front of the main
door of buildings, while smaller ones
could be placed on tabletops, being
decorative objects to please the eye
of the beholder. This jadeite screen
insert is carved on one side with a
mountain stream scene of pines and auspicious
crane, alluding to the auspicious phrase,
"Long life (like) pines and cranes".
The other side is engraved with a pattern
of waves and rocks, referring to another
lucky term, "Mountains of fortune,
seas of long life". Thus, this
piece abounds with blessings for long
life and good luck.
The ancient Chinese
name for lapis lazuli was "ch'iu-lin
(beautiful stone)", and it was
also known as "blue gold",
"essence of gold", and "gold
star" stone. Lapis lazuli, with
its azure sky-blue color, sometimes
contains scatterings of pyrite ("fool's
gold"), producing the effect of
a starry sky in early evening. Consequently,
in ancient times, it was often considered
a mineral of mysterious colors. This
miniature mountain was carved from a
beautiful piece of indigo lapis lazuli.
Engraved on it is a poem by the Ch'ien-lung
Emperor and the title "Spirit-transport
Stone". |
