Chinese Double-Sided Rosewood Panel

Chinese Double-Sided Carved and Gilded Rosewood Panel

OR2. Chinese double-sided rosewood panel, decorated on each side with a relief-carved and gilded scene featuring the Chinese immortal Cai Shen, the god of wealth, one of the eight immortals in the Pa Hsien, legendary beings in the Taoist sect, accompanied by auspicious emblems of longevity, bounty and authority.
 
The scenes on either side of the panel are mirror-images, each relief-carved and gilded, presented in a recessed fan-shaped reserve, centered by large relief-carved chrysanthemum blossoms and leaves nested in each corner and below the reserve, and fitted to a wide mitered frame with a double-welted sight-molding underlying a bold pierce-carved frieze of lotus scroll punctuated at the corners by Greek-key fret or cloud-and-thunder with chrysanthemum.
 
The figures of Cai Shen and his attendant are shown journeying through rock-work and pine-tree foliage. The figure of Cai Shen, gold of wealth, is depicted with a long mustache blending with a longer beard which trails down his chest, wearing a long robe and a Ming-dynasty style official hat with two thin scrolling wing-like flaps. He carries a ruyi scepter symbol of rulership in his right hand, and a small round object, perhaps a coin, representing wealth in his other one hand. The attendant walking behind holds a bag, perhaps containing more coins.
 
Dating is late 19th Century to the 20th Century. Superior attention to detail. Good condition, retaining the original rich dark reddish-brown finish, and gilding. Mortise and miter joinery. Measures 32 ¾" long and 44" wide, and 1 ½" thick. (JP1a) $395.00

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