light screen

• Lichtschirm mit Darstellung von Unsterblichen

• Asia collection,
• sculpture collection,
• Exner collection

• execution: anonymous, China, 18th century

• Qianlong period (1736-1795) ,
• Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

• Religion und Ritual

• Mosaikbild aus Specksteinstücken in Holzrahmen

• length: 68 cm
• height: 54.5 cm

• PL 723

• donation, 1948

• Asia Collection

Because of its low-level hardness (hardness grade 1) and natural polychromatism, steatite is highly suitable for use in stone mosaics and intarsia. Parallel to the use of colored lacquer (so-called coromandel lacquer) since the 17th century, steatite was also employed in largerscale decorative works. Table screens were used to screen irritating light and dust, also for interior decoration in accordance with the rules of feng shui, the harmonization of the living space. On one side of the screen, attendants await the arrival of the immortals in the jade palace of the celestial mother Xiwangmu, on the other side foreigners—West Asians or Europeans—are received on a palace terrace. A remarkable feature is the depiction of an arboreal arcade in Western perspective. (Wieninger, Johannes)

on display

• light screen, Lichtschirm mit Darstellung von Unsterblichen, Anonym, MAK Inv.nr. PL 723

• https://sammlung.mak.at/en/collect/lichtschirm-mit-darstellung-von-unsterblichen_45008

• 21.01.2025