A DREAMSTONE-INSET HARDWOOD TABLE SCREEN, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The rectangular dreamstone smoothly crafted from marble of a creamy tone suffused with varying tones of brown and slate-grey natural inclusions reminiscent of a mountain range. The wood stand is carved in openwork with coiled dragons, floral scrolls, and key-fret, and the wood frame is carved in relief with flower buds. (2) Provenance: From a noted private collection in Chicago, Illinois, USA. By repute acquired from The Jade Dragon, ca. between 1980 and 1990. Old label “The Jade Dragon, Ann Arbor, MI” applied to the backside, with manually inscribed inventory number “13897”. The Jade Dragon was a reputed Chinese art gallery located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and some traces of use. The wood with some age cracks, minimal losses, and a fine naturally grown patina. Weight: 1,306 g (the stone and frame) and 622 g (the stand) Dimensions: Height 37 cm (incl. stand) and 26.5 x 22.4 cm (the screen frame) The use of marble in screens or tables was popular amongst scholars in the later Ming Dynasty for its evocative qualities, conjuring up imaginary scenes and landscapes, hence the frequently used term 'dreamstone' panels. These treasured dreamstones, also known as 'stone paintings', were often made of marble quarried from Dali, in Yunnan province. Literature comparison: A related dreamstone panel with a similarly subtle contrast between the colours of the rock, from the Xiaogushan Guan studio collection, is illustrated in Rochers de lettres: Itineraires de l'Art en Chine, Musee des arts asiantiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 36, where it is suggested that the panel's abstract streaks call to mind an ethereal scene of Bodhidharma crossing a sea. Auction result comparison: Compare a related dreamstone table screen, dated to the 17th century, with similar natural inclusions reminiscent of a mountain range and openwork carving to the stand, but of slightly larger size (47.8 cm high) and mounted in a huanghuali frame, at Sotheby's Hong Kong in Contemporary Literati: Curiosity on 5 April 2015, lot 2884, sold for HKD 1,625,000. 清代硬木嵌大理石座屏 中國，1644-1912年。長方形米色大理石表面平滑，帶有不同色調的棕色和石灰色天然脈絡，讓人聯想到山脈。木架鏤空雕刻龍、花卉、回形紋。 來源：美國伊利諾伊斯芝加哥知名私人收藏。據説1980至90年間購於The Jade Dragon藝廊。背面舊標簽 “The Jade Dragon, Ann Arbor, MI” 以及編號 “13897”。The Jade Dragon 曾是美國密西根安娜堡中國藝術藝廊。 品相：狀況極好有輕微磨損和一些使用痕跡。 木材帶有一些老化裂紋，損失小，並具有良好的自然生長的包漿。 重量：1,306 克 (大理石和木框)，622 克 (底座) 尺寸：高37 厘米 (含底座)，26.5 x 22.4 厘米 (框) 文獻比較：一件相近大理石座屏以及相近脈絡的座屏，來自Xiaogushan Guan studio collection收藏，見Rochers de lettres: Itineraires de l'Art en Chine, Musee des arts asiantiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 36, 敘述此紋路猶如達摩過江。 拍賣結果比較：一件十七世紀大理石座屏，相近脈絡紋理，底座鏤空雕刻，但尺寸稍大 (高47.8 厘米) ，黃花梨木框，于 香港佳士得 Contemporary Literati: Curiosity 2015年4月5日 lot 2884, 售價HKD 1,625,000。