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Subject:Need help with writing on Chinese carved soapstone 6-panel screen.
Posted By: Rebecca A Miller Mon, Mar 16, 2020 IP: 2604:6000:ccc5:d800:

I bought this screen at an auction and have been unsuccessful in translating the writing on it. Each panel is 72" long by 16" wide. The 3D people and buildings are carved soapstone I believe. The hair almost looks like carved onyx. Any help with identifying the artist, the age and value is much appreciated. Thank you in advance.





Subject:Re: Need help with writing on Chinese carved soapstone 6-panel screen.
Posted By: Bill H Tue, Mar 17, 2020

This room-divider type of folding screen, with carved stone figures on backdrop paintings in the Chinese manner, was made and sold in large numbers and various sizes during the late 20th century. It is identifiable by its border designs and the use of modern metal "hardware store" hinges instead of antique style bronze ones.

The meaning of the top character shown in your image evades me. The middle character looks to be "Qu" (去), root meaning "to go". The bottom line's first character appears to be "Zha" (乍), root meaning "first time", but in the context of merchandise, perhaps "new arrival" was meant. The two characters that follow are read together as "Jiaohui" (交会), root meaning "exchange association". This implies to me that the screen was made for/sold by one of the Vietnam War-era military exchange stores around Asia, perhaps the one operated by the British Royal Navy in Hong Kong, which also had spaces where the US Navy exchange system sold goods as well. Such a notation also could have been written by a crew getting set to pack and ship the item from the exchange store to the purchaser.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Need help with writing on Chinese carved soapstone 6-panel screen.
Posted By: Rebecca A Miller Thu, Mar 19, 2020

Thank you, Bill H. for all the wonderful information.


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