A Chinese Carved and Inlaid Rosewood Floor Screen and Stand, c. 1850

The elaborately carved base with bracket feet, lotus moldings and a pierced gallery below a carved U-shaped mount featuring alternating inlaid bats and shou symbols, supporting the glass-covered double-sided panel, A large and exceptional panel containing carved and polychromed inlaid figures of the 18 Luohans (Buddhist ascetics) seated on their traditional animal mounts and passing through a lush landscape of rockery, trees, temples and pagodas, in the distant are tall mountains and colorful clouds. 

Dimensions: the base 46 in. x 16 in.; the panel 33 in. x 42 in.; 50 1/2 in. high, overall

Provenance:  The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada c. 1918-1925 as part of the George Crofts Collection acquired in Tientsin, China. Sold in 1969 by The Hundred Antiques shop, Toronto, Canada, to Eugene L. Notkin, Boston, Mass. Sold, Robert C. Eldred Galleries, Dennis, Mass., "Important Auction of Oriental Art," 24-26  August, 1972, lot 939 to Dr. Neuman S. Mittel of Boston and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

George Crofts (1871-1925) was a fur trader based in Tianjin.  He initially collected Chinese antiques as a hobby, but soon began dealing in the material.  He started selling to Charles T. Currelly (1876-1957), the director of the Royal Ontario Museum in 1914.  These purchases formed the basis of the museum's Chinese collection, the second largest outside China.

There are separations and old stapled repairs to the carved landscape which are evident through the glass. The reverse painting has two tears to the silk. The base has several shrinkage cracks, an area of loss to the gallery and shows general expected wear. 

Note: THIS LOT CONTAINS ANIMAL OR PLANT MATERIAL THAT MAY BE RESTRICTED UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND/ OR LOCAL LAW. BIDDERS SHOULD CHECK ALL APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT WILDLIFE RESTRICTIONS PRIOR TO PLACING A BID. THE BUYER WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ANY NECESSARY LICENSE OR PERMITS APPLICABLE TO THE SALE OR TRANSPORT OF THE OBJECT.