Late Qing 5 ft high 6-Panel Gilt Painted Elmwood Folding Room Divider 7 ft wide For Sale

Offered is this exceptional, highly functional piece of Chinese furniture history: an authentic six-panel folding screen room divider crafted around 1900.The screen is just over 5\' high (64\") and with 6 12\" wide panels is 6\' wide unfolded. Made from durable northern ChineseElmwood (Yumu), the screen frames display a dense, wavy natural grain. The piece is entirely original, structurally sound, and in good antique condition with expected losses to gilt and laquer. Each of the 6 screen panels features hand-painted polychrome and gilt scenes of Chinese courtyard life and social gatherings. Traditional floral vignettes, native birds, and auspicious symbol borders surround the central narrative panels.The wood craftsmanship is exceptional with dovetail and mortise tenon joints and finely cut sliding windows with small toggles as described below. Unlike typical static folding screens, this has sliding window openings Each of the six panels features a functional slide mechanism that opens to control airflow, light filtration, and privacy between separated rooms. There are discretely designed toggles to keep the windows in a closed position (see image #21). When the toggles are disengaged, the thin panels slide down along tracks on each side. Each sliding panel is 18\" long. Delicate mechanical woodwork from circa 1900 rarely survives intact. In most surviving pieces with moving parts, the wood warps, jamming delicate tracks or breaking the wooden slide guides. In person pickup only. I have a flexible schedule and can accomodate your schedule.
NOTE: I am listing many Chinese antique items that recently became available from my family\'s estate. These include porcelains (vases, bowls, statues, planters) and wooden furniture (heavily carved stools, stands, chairs, side tables, decorative screens, panels, lanterns and standing lamps). I am new to orientalia but have done research about all of the items I will list here. Please feel welcome to ask any questions or request additional photos.