Pair of Chinese Carved Jade Table Screens
Late Qing dynasty, c. 1880–1910
Carved spinach-green jade, hardwood stands
29 ½ × 22 × 13 in. each
These monumental table screens exemplify the late Qing dynasty passion for jade as a symbol of refinement and erudition. Each spinach-green jade panel is carved in relief with scholars and attendants set amid trees, pavilions, and mountains beneath swirling clouds. The imagery reflects the literati ideal of harmony between man and nature, a theme deeply embedded in Chinese philosophy and aesthetics.
The panels are mounted in finely carved hardwood frames and stands with intricate openwork designs, which complement the jade’s subject matter and enhance its display. Large screens of this type were both decorative and symbolic, serving as focal points in elite interiors. They embodied not only artistic skill and material luxury but also the moral virtues traditionally associated with jade — purity, endurance, and timeless beauty.
