This six-panels oriental screen is hand-painted with traditional Ming Dynasty court scene. The design of the screen runs diagonally from the bottom right to the upper left corner and can be split up in foreground and background. Almost all the figures painted on this oriental screen are women. There are some very ancient Chinese pictures of women engaged in various activities around the palace. The paintings on the decorative folding screens with female courtiers become a popular theme in the late Ming and early Qing periods. The Ming Dynasty court scenes featuring women are far more relaxed than the palace scenes with high-ranking dignitaries. No officers or magistrates depicted on such screens, but ladies of the Court with children are depicted on the screen throughout the the court, rooms and pavilions. On the upper right, a flat bridge leads to a graceful gateway behind which the water stretches over on the back of the palace. A group of women with children are crossing inside the walls where ladies of the court are talking and resting. The overall layout and composition of this oriental folding screen room divider is classic and true to the period. Folding screen has outer, inner and central borders. Design of the outer border futures classic motif with flowers and leaf scrolls, The inner border embracing the main composition is weighed than outer border, and has a similar stylized scrolled leaf motif but without the flowers. The central border of this folding screen contains of eighteen unique hand painted in realistic manner scenes incased in gracefully shaped vignettes. The scenes painted on a central border feature landscapes, blossoming trees, fruits and flowers arrangements. The back of this oriental screen has an antiqued crackled black finish. This folding screen is imported by Decorative Crafts, Inc

oriental folding screen hand-painted with Ming Dynasty court scene featuring women and children

* images used on this page are courtesy of Decorative Crafts, Inc