Bidspirit auction | Pr Chinese Carved Giltwood Reverse-Painted

Pr Chinese Carved Giltwood Reverse-Painted Lights - Pair of Chinese carved giltwood hanging lights or lanterns of hexagonal form with reverse-painted glass paneling, ca. first half of the 20th century. The central panels decorated with exterior scenes depicting women engaged in leisurely activities, including painting and playing instruments, surmounted by panels depicting vining foliate forms in bloom along the upper corona. Provenance: Christie's, New York, ”Important English Furniture Including the Paley Collection, ” 14 October 2004, Lot 263; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Lot Essay: Emerging in 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty under Emperor Kangxi, reverse glass painting is an intricate art form where oil and gouache are applied to the back of a glass panel in reverse order to create detailed imagery. Offering a novel sensory experience compared to traditional porcelain, pith paper, or canvas, the medium was prized by Eastern and Western elites alike, with European aristocrats paying steep sums to acquire pieces for their homes or personal collections. The technique also developed an intimate connection with female portraiture; the glass’s reflective surface lends an extra dimension of grace to women's portraits, creating a subtle, intimate presence that makes catching a subject's eye feel like a timeless connection. (Each, excluding hanging element) Height: 22 1/2 in x diameter: 20 1/2 in. Condition: To each of the lanterns, there are losses and scratches to the pigment. There are small cracks to the wood. To one of the lanterns, there is a crack along one of the glass panels. There are small losses to the wood. To the other, one of the top panels the paintng is nearly gone and there is a large crack repaired with scptch tape, To the long panel below it, there are seven horizontal cracks; also repaired with scotch tape. One area with a loss. To the panel to the right, there is a large horizontal crack near the center. Some wear along the edges repaired with scotch tape. There is a complete loss to one of the carved wooden elements. Losses to the gilt. Many areas have been repainted with gilt.