(江南雕蟲鳥楠木望月插窗) This wonderful large size antique architectural fragment with excellent design in motif is made of Nan-Mu frame with three small solid hand-carved Nan-Mu panels inserted. The inserted small panel on the right is carved with a bird perching on a flowering peony branch; the middle panel is carved with a wonderful bee resting on a branch with four-petaled flowers that look could be some kind of dogwood flowers; and the one on the left has a nice grass hopper among Hibiscus like flowers and branches! The entire screen panel is also decorated with carved ornaments in openwork with motives such as eternal knots and loquat fruits. The bottom of the panel has a large and elaborately carved cluster that is composed of a large Bi (Path to Eternity) in the middle, tied and pulled by two strings, with two wonderfully carved bats on the top and also at the bottom, and a Ruyi in between each of the two bats. Such wonderful array of auspicious symbols and motives really sets off the idyllic and harmonious flavor for the entire panel.

This screen was used as a window where the two feet at the bottom fit into a larger wall composition. At the back of the screen, there are shallow grooves for a movable thin wood panel. When privacy was desired, one could close the window with the wood panel at the back.

This architectural fragment came from the Jiangzhe area where the natural beauty and scenery embedded many wonderful poets, artists, craftsmen, and beautiful works full of naturalistic elements.

Dimensions: 35” W x 48” H

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