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I love reading your stories, Tim. Being only a collector they sound fantastic to me.
As to the lady, I think she resembles the 1710 lady from the book. Note the similar hair decoration. Kangxi would also be in accordance with the depiction of the foreigners, though their clothes seem somewhat older. Tommy Eklöf says in the 18th century European subjects were popular.
Birgit
Hi Tim -
Attached images and descriptions of two different auspices/mythical creatures seen on both Chongzhen and Shunzhi ceramics, both pieces from the Butler Coll …
The enamelled example is a ‘xiezhai’, the blue and white example shows a qilin alongside a ‘baize’ which, possibly, is the creature depicted in the first image you posted as this has no body scales and the qilin is always drawn with such …
All three creatures continue into the Kangxi period, although the drawing of such is very different …
It is possible that one of foreign gentleman’ shown could be Spanish, as they had the silver trade monopoly, vital to the late Ming economy, brought from South American on the Manila gallon …
Stuart
@shinigami Thanks, Birgit! I see the facial similarities are similar. However, one thing that appears quite different is that the soapstone carving's hair has a large loop with an open space, while the book reference shows the hair knotted tightly to the head. So, I do think stylistically is favors earlier 17th c. style (Ming) more than 18th c. (Qing), but it's awfully close either way. Does the book only show depictions from porcelain?
@ming1449 Stuart, many thanks! I was away from my computer yesterday, and my phone makes it tricky to read the text you posted, so I waited until this morning to read and respond.
I think you have identified the beasts correctly. I'm wondering... do you have any information on the reason why this was a chosen design of the mid 17th c.? It appears that by the 18th c., other than the most popular beasts (Qilin, dragon, Buddhist lion), the more obscure beasts all but disappear.
I'll note that there are still a few more different beasts depicted on my screen that I did not post.
I also think it is intersting to learn, as Mark (@imperialfinegems) suggested, that you feel the European figures might be Spanish. Have you seen any Chinese depictions of the Spanish during the 17th c. (on porcelain or other)? Any theory why they'd be paired with mystical beasts on leashes? The depictions are fascinating, and to me, but seem to suggest a strange message of Europeans domesticating Chinese culture.
Any thoughts on that?
For the record, I have still not come across a similar screen in a museum collection, or auction house. Such discoveries are much like a bad itch in the center of your back, and no matter the effort, you just can't reach it to scratch.
All the help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Birgit
Hi Tim -
I’ll go through/read my database/library references tomorrow to see what I can find …
I suspect the combinations of auspicious creatures seen on such pieces could either by a direct reflection of or influenced by the political climate/situations encountered during the collapse of the Ming and subsequent invasion/establishment of the Qing, in both cases possible alluding to service and/or loyalty to the Emperor/dynasty …
Stuart
@shinigami That's a very interesting image... so from 1630-1710... I'll take it!
I came across some paintings of Europeans from the 18th c. I couldn't find any Chinese depictions from the 17th only Japanese ones. Also there is the Governor Duff porcelain pattern which may be of use. Obviously, all these are after 1710, but it may be the screen has been decorated in what may have been considered a traditional style harking back to the Ming period and the figures are painted in the same style possibly with more modern-looking Europeans if source material for their older look was not available.
At first I thought your European had a ruff, but it is actually a wide collar; with that and the earring he looks like a pirate.
Here is the info anyway. The link shows a Portuguese, Spaniard (the one with the cloak) and a Dutchman with hair tied back. The painting is by Zhang Rulin 1735. Not sure why the Dutch are associated with red hair.
To see 16th c figures you could look at some European paintings like the artist Franz Hals who the museum in the second link is named after. Even if the links aren't useful, I hope they are interesting to see.
http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2017/03/25/35092448.html
I may have found my first close comparitable object, held at the MET museum... take a look!
AND.... seems that the Dutch tried to build a trade relationship with the Chinese in 1667 by coming to China and offering horses and oxen as tribute to the then 13 year old Kangxi emperor. The young emperor then commission a painting which depicts Dutch merchants with horses/oxen on tethers (leashes)....looks quite similar to the manner of the depictions on my screen of 'Dutch' merchants with mysthical Chinese beasts on tethers.
Perhaps this suggests the screen was a reciprication of tribute to the Dutch by a Chinese merchant in favor of trade? (Although, while Kangxi excepted the horses and oxen, he did not accept the convoy, and no trade commenced.)
I captured this image from an online PDF titled, Heavenly Horses from Holland: A Tribute Painting of Dutchmen Offering Oxen and Horses at Kangxi Court in 1667 and a Failed Dutch Embassy.
Not sure this will work, but here's a link (you might have to log in): file:///C:/Users/GREENO/Downloads/Heavenly_Horses_from_Holland_A_Tribute_P%20(1).pdf
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