During the Qing Dynasty, the paintings and decorations on the indoor walls of wealthy families were gradually replaced by a kind of furniture. Do you know what it is? There’s no fuss here, it’s just a screen.
Purple sandalwood hanging screen four-piece set
Hanging screens actually evolved from screens. Before the Ming Dynasty, early screens tended to be more practical, and their function was to shield and separate indoor spaces. However, with the development of the times and the improvement of architecture, screens gradually evolved into decorations. For example, the inkstone screen placed on the table is a category that is more decorative than practical. Although the shape is small, it does not lose the form of a screen. .
Purple sandalwood hanging screen four-piece set
But by the early Qing Dynasty, hanging screens had completely become a purely decorative category. Hanging screen furniture is generally used in pairs or sets. For example, a group of four panels is called a four-panel screen, a group of eight panels is called an eight-panel screen, and there is also a nave hanging in the middle and a couplet hanging on each side. This form of display was even more popular in the Yong and Qian dynasties of the Qing Dynasty. It could be seen almost everywhere in the palaces of emperors and concubines. It can be seen how highly ornamental the hanging screen is.
The purple sandalwood inlaid marble hanging screen on the wall in the picture is a classic Qing style hanging screen. The main body is made of purple sandalwood. Not only is it difficult to obtain the material, but it is also more difficult to process. In order to make a complete set of hanging screens in a set of four panels, the cost of labor and materials is not low. The four frames of the hanging screen are dimpled and grooved to install the board. The center of the board is illuminated and inlaid with marble. The lighting shapes are rich and diverse, including fan-shaped, cloud-shaped, rectangular, circular, sunflower-shaped, etc. It is not boring. There is a live buckle on the back of the hanging screen. , the back panel is detachable. If the marble is broken during transportation, it can be easily replaced. The most important thing is that it is convenient for storing private paper items. Of course, this does not mean that it can hide private money.
