18TH CENTURY CHINESE EXPORT LACQUER SCREEN WITH PROVENANCE
Primary provenanced art and antiques, those objects with a direct line of descent to the property for which they were made or purchased, are an increasingly rare breed.
This large 18th century Chinese export six-fold lacquer screen, decorated in shades of red and gilt with a typical array of landscapes, figures and pavilions, will be offered at our Asian Art auction on 9 May.
The screen, originally one of a pair, featured in an article in Country Life published on the 1st January 1910 about Glemham Hall in Suffolk. Built around 1560 by the De Glemham family, Glemham Hall was purchased by Francis North, 2nd Baron Guilford of the North family in 1709, whose uncle Dudley North had earlier purchased the lordship of the manor of Little Glemham.
The screens are described in the article as having originally belonged to Dudley North’s grandfather, Elihu Yale who was President of the East India Company settlement in Fort St. George at Madras, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School in the Colony of Connecticut, which in 1718 was renamed Yale College in his honour.
The estimate is £2000-4000.