Hardwood Zitan Sold @ Bonhams

The rare piece made of Zitan was sold for 78,000 pounds. Framed by a convex plain border within two raised bands, fitted atop a large stand, crisply carved with a frieze of two Buddhist lions playing with a ribboned brocade ball, above a slanted apron carved with ruyi-heads and key-fret design, the stand flanked by four shaped panels carved with foliate scrolls, all raised on two supports with ruyi-head decoration. What an elegant piece.
216cm x 107cm x 58cm

It is one of a monumental hardwood screen said to have been removed by Major General Sir Ivor Philipps during the invasion from the Summer Palace or the Forbidden City.

Major-General Sir Ivor Philipps served as an officer with the British Forces on the 'China Expeditionary Force' sent to lift the siege of the British Legation in Beijing and quell the Boxer Rebellion in 1900-1901. via bonhams.