Pair of Qing Dynasty Signed Imperial Court Scene Table Screens. Two small table screens painted on marble in wooden frames on adjustable carved wood stands, painted with court imagery on front, verse verso.

Can be separated from stands.

Size: 3 1/2 x 5 x 9 in.

Chinese table screens are elegant decorative objects traditionally placed on scholars’ desks or altars, serving both aesthetic and symbolic purposes. Typically made from fine hardwoods such as rosewood or zitan, they feature an inset panel of jade, porcelain, lacquer, or carved stone adorned with intricate scenes of landscapes, calligraphy, birds, or flowers. Originating during the Ming and Qing dynasties, these small screens provided privacy, blocked drafts, and acted as focal points for contemplation or meditation. Beyond their practical function, they embodied refined taste and scholarly virtue, often inscribed with poems or auspicious imagery reflecting the owner’s intellect and moral ideals. Today, Chinese table screens are treasured for their craftsmanship, material beauty, and the window they offer into the cultivated world of the traditional scholar’s studio.

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