Ɏ A PAIR OF IRON ‘TIEHUA’ PANELS DEPICTING PEONY... Lot 95

Ɏ A PAIR OF IRON ‘TIEHUA’ PANELS DEPICTING PEONY AND LOTUS, IN ZITAN FRAMES, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Published & Exhibited: Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London, 2007, p. 98. China. Finely wrought with individually crafted elements joined with small bolts, each with large blossoms borne on leafy stems rising from the base of the frame. The three peony blossoms with numerous petals enclosing their central bulbs. The lotus with large pads and two blossoms rising from a riverbank, one bulb remaining closed while the other spread elegantly revealing the cupped interior of its petals. The frames are original to the panels and carved from Zitan wood. Provenance: Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London, 2007. Dr. Kenneth P. Lawley (inventory number M.34), acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from Ben Janssens, dated 15 February 2007 and stating a purchase price of GBP 5,000 or approx. EUR 11,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Ben Janssens has been an authority in Asian antiquities since the late 1990s. His impressive gallery in the heart of London focuses primarily on early Chinese art, hosting impressive exhibits. Dr. Kenneth P. Lawley (1937-2023) was a chemical physicist in The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. His collection started in the early 1960s, and for the first twenty-five years of his collecting career Dr. Lawley made the majority of his purchases from the Davies Street gallery of Bluett and Sons. Working within a fairly small budget – Lawley had a small private income as well as his emoluments from the University of Edinburgh – he often sold pieces back to the firm to finance more expensive purchases. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and manufacturing flaws. Weight: 640 g and 681 g Dimensions: 41.7 x 22 cm (each) Tiehua, literally ‘iron flowers,’ started in Wuhu during the seventeenth century. They were originally hammered as floral-patterned candle holders for local Buddhist temples. Tang Peng, a local blacksmith, was believed to be the first to wrought iron images of flowers and birds, scenery, and insects. In the eighteenth century, tiehua were transported to the capital Beijing and obtained attention from nobles and scholars. Poems and essays were written to praise the beauty of the images and the talents of their producers. Literature comparison: Compare a related set of four tiehua panels of bamboo, plum blossom, orchids, and chrysanthemum, dated 17th to 18th century, in the National Museum of Scotland, accession number A.1902.466. Compare a related tiehua floral spray panel, 125.7 x 41.4 cm, dated 1750-1850, in the British Museum, accession number 1928,0717.15. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2019, lot 165 Price: GBP 23,750 or approx. EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare set of four tiehua panels, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related material, technique, and naturalistic subject. Note that this lot comprises four tiehua panels of larger size (123 x 43 cm). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.