A FINE PAIR OF CHINESE IMPERIAL PAINTINGS ON SILK

18TH CENTURY

Each delicately depicting an Imperial ceremonial canopy, lubu, with three tiers of pleated fabric surmounted by a gilt finial, raised on a carrying pole, one decorated with five-clawed scaly dragons and flaming pearls of wisdom on a yellow ground, and with an inscription which reads Huangdi dajia lubu wuse longgai tu (Illustration for His Imperial Highness's multicoloured canopy of dragon design), the other with lingzhi fungus, lotus, bamboo, prunus, camellia and other flowers on a blue ground, with an inscription which reads Huangdi dajia lubu wuse huagai tu (Illustration for His Imperial Highness's multicoloured canopy in floral design), framed and glazed, 39.5cm x 31.5cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly in the collection of Lieutenant Chaleuss, and by repute, from the Summer Palace, Beijing.

Cf. Wan, Wang and Lu, Daily Life in the Forbidden City, pp.32-33, nos.33 and 34, where original canopies are illustrated.