lacquered wood, coral, jade and semi-precious stones
Measurements
(a) 118.3 × 47.7 cm (image) 127.0 × 56.1 × 3.5 cm (overall) (Flowers of spring) (b) 118.0 × 47.8 cm (image) 127.0 × 56.2 × 3.7 cm (overall) (Flowers of summer) (c) 118.0 × 48.0 cm (image) 126.8 × 56.5 × 3.4 cm (overall) (Flowers of autumn) (d) 118.3 × 48.0 cm (image) 127.0 × 56.2 × 4.0 cm (overall) (Flowers of winter)
Place/s of Execution
China
Inscription
(a) inlaid in white jade u.l.c.: 玉堂富貴 (b) inlaid in white jade u.r.c.: 凌波仙子 (c) inlaid in white jade u.l.c.: 东籬秋色 (d) inlaid in white jade u.r.c.: 家和清修
The four black lacquered wooden panels are decorated with auspicious images of flowers of the four seasons and treasures of the scholar’s study and attributes. The panels are inlaid with rosewood and semi-precious stones such as jade and corals. The panels are read from right to left corresponding to the order of reading Chinese.
(a) Flowers of spring: A bunch of peony is held in a vase that is evocative of the archaic bronze hu 壺 vessel, which is supported by a beautiful carved rosewood stand. Peony is the flower of spring, regarded as ‘king of flowers’, flowers of wealth and good fortune. To the left is a dragon-carp bending its body in the handle of a wooden basket and holding in its mouth a bunch of flowers. The carp symbolises scholarly achievements and is often represented jumping above a gorge and waterfall, symbolising the passing of scholarly examinations to become a high official. The treasures of the scholar’s study include a beautiful miniature desk screen of jade framed by an intricate rosewood carving, jade brush holder supported by an elegant wooden base etc. In the upper left corner is the elegant inscription of four characters in the cursive script expressing auspicious meanings.
(b) Flowers of summer: The lotus, flowers of summer is represented in a cluster in a vase that is evocative of the archaic bronze hu 壺 vessel, supported by intricately carved rosewood stand. Lotus symbolizes purity as it emerges from mud and remains pure. To its left is a cluster of what appears as peaches in a white jade vase which is supported by a carved square stand. Peaches are symbols of long life. Peaches grew in the Kunlun Mountain west of China, in the garden of Xiwangmu 西王母, Western Queen Mother. The peach trees flowered only once every three thousand years and it took another three thousand years for the fruits to ripen.
In the middle of the panel is an incense burner also evocative of archaic bronze ding 鼎 vessel. Its three legs which are supported by rosewood stand. The smoke rising from the lid of the burner is represented in red coral. There are also other interesting objects represented such as a tea kettle holding flowers, the citron called Buddha’s hand and a cross section of a lotus root. The shape of this citron or lemon-like fruit called fushou 佛手’Buddha’s hand’ resembles the fingers of the Buddha, hence its name. The component of this name fu 佛 meaning ‘Buddha’ and shou 手 meaning ‘hand’ also plays on the words for happiness (fu 福) and long life (shou 壽). In the bottom lower corner is an amazing piece of Chinese furniture in miniature supporting an incense burner, a cup with a ladle and a spray of berries in a vase which resembles an archaic bronze vessel. The cursive inscription in the upper left corner forms a pair with panel (a) ‘Flowers of spring’.
(c) Flowers of autumn: Chrysanthemums, flowers of autumn and of retreat and retirement are represented in a cluster in a green jade vase supported by a beautiful wooden stand. To its left is also a cluster of flowers in a white jade vase supported by a smaller wooden stand. At the centre of picture is a bowl elevated on a wooden stand. The bowl is holding a peach, Buddha’s Hand Citron and pomegranate which are combined into a motif known as ‘The Three Plenties’, representing long life (peach), happiness (Buddha’s Hand), and many children (pomegranate which has many seeds and thus symbol of fertility). In the lower right corner is a wooden stand that resembles an arch and holding musical stones of lotus, butterfly and a pair of fish, all of which are lucky symbols. Butterfly (die 蝶) is a rebus for (die 耋) meaning 80 years of age and hence long life. The butterfly is also a symbol of summer and of happiness in marriage. The pair of fish is symbols of abundance. Fish (yu 魚) is a rebus for abundance (yu 餘). Next to it are ink bamboo brush holder and is holding brushes, sceptres, flying whisk which are attributes of a scholar official as well as chopsticks
(d) Flowers of winter: Plum blossoms are symbols of winter, perseverance, purity and regeneration. It is the first to flower at the end of winter. Plum blossoms and another flower are held in a jade vase that resembles the hu 壺 vessel of archaic bronze. The vase is supported by an intricately carved wooden stool. Behind the vase is a sword. To the right further down is a branch of berries in a vase which is supported by a stool. In the middle of the panel is depicted a jade flower pot from which are grown narcissus and supported by rectangular wooden stand. Narcissus, known to the Chinese as shuixian 水 仙, meaning ‘water immortal’ symbolizes good fortune and prosperity. It is one of the most popular flowers of the Chinese New Year festival. As only clear water and clean pebbles are needed to bring the buds of this plant into flower, it suggests purity and cleanliness. In the lower right corner is a jade disc which symbolizes Heaven and a jade ruyi 如 意 sceptre. Ruyi which means ‘as you wish’ or ‘may your wish come true’ resembles the lingzhi 靈 芝 or ‘longevity fungus’. This sceptre is decorated with five ‘longevity fungus’. There are a few images that need to be identified. The inscription in cursive script is in the upper right corner, probably to form a pair with the panel of the flowers of autumn which has its inscription in the left upper corner.