Description
Dont really know much except what the lady who gave it to me told me before she passed away. It is an antique 4 panel chinese room divider the onlly markings on it say both in chinese and in english made in Tianjin China I dont really know anything about it and cannot find anything like it anywhere any insight to see if this is really and antique would be appreciated . it looks like it is wooden covered in plaster covered in paint
Re: Antique Chinese Room Divider
You are really lucky to have a Tianjin China screen. I envy you! These are known as Corommandel screens due to the Coromandel lacquer technique used from 16th C. They can vary in number of panels up to 12, most are 6 and others like yours, 4. The panels are softwood as it does not shrink or expand as hardwood does and so supports the screen. What you perceive to be "wood covered in plaster" is this softwood covered by layers of clay, all of it handmade by an artisan in the traditional way.
Tianjin have the reputation of making the best screens from art deco era to mid C. Most panels are 72" tall by about 16-18" wide, footed and lacquered and handpainted and/or inset with mother-of-pearl.
I am not a professional appraisal person, I'm a full time New Zealand artist with a deep interest in things Asian, but from what I've seen you should get around $2000 as the 6 panel ones I've seen reach $2000-3000 (NZD)
Enjoy your beautiful gift.