Lot 158 , A rare set of four Chinese polychrome soapstone appliqué work painted silk pictures, 18th century

A rare set of four Chinese polychrome soapstone appliqué work painted silk pictures, 18th century, each intricately decorated with scenes of figures in a courtyard with pavilions, plants or trees, in European ebonised pine frames, images 20.5 x 14cm, frames 25.5cm x 19.2cm
£6,000-8,000

Condition:
The first picture has applied polychrome soapstone figures, trees rockwork and a stool. The tree has a small loss to a section of the branch and there is evidence that the right hand section of the tree has been reglued down, some slight spotting to the silk ground otherwise good. The second picture has applied polychrome soapstone figures and a section of pavilion upper left. Part of the pierced trellis upper left has split and is pushed in slightly and there are two cracks to the soapstone of the plinth of the pavilion, slight grubbiness to the silk painted silk ground otherwise good. The third picture has applied polychrome soapstone figures, a tree, fence and rock work. There is evidence of a small loss upper right to the tree and sections of the tree have been re-stuck down with a crack across the bough of the tree. Some grubbiness and staining to the painted silk background especially in the sky, otherwise reasonable condition. The fourth picture has applied polychrome soapstone figures a pavilion a lantern/Jordan cover. Slight staining to the painted silk background, a tiny splint of chip to a section join a section where it where the soapstone joins next to the steps in the picture, otherwise in good condition. All of the frames are heavily scuffed and scratched, the fourth frame has a few small old wormholes to the border but there’s no other evidence of damage to the picture.

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