A RARE AND LARGE 'LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE' AUTOMATON QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY the narrative scenes from The Legend of the White Snake set within three hinge-connected hardwood and glass casements, the central and largest depicting the famous battle between Bai Suzhen and her nemesis, the immortal amasses an army of underwater creatures and demons, shown in the roiling waves at the base, to attack the monastery of her enemy Fa Hai, attempting to submerge the temple but the attack fails as Fa Hai magically commands the mountain to rise out of harm's way, the temple depicted in lavish detail amidst towering, rocky mountains painted in shades of blue and green, varying trees and foliage and swirling colorful clouds, the left casement illustrates further scenes from the drama including the rescue of Bai Suzhen from the Leifeng pagoda, the right case depicting other moments from legend among them, the disapproving monk Fa Hai wielding a sword, comprising papier-mâché, silk, wire, glass, gilt and polychrome paint, the entire landscape dotted with kingfisher feather ornaments (later added from a headdress), the central case electrically wired, now mounted on a later 'Hongmu' stand (2) Height 37 1/2 in., 95.3 cm; Width 71 1/2 in., 181.6 cm; Depth 15 1/2 in., 39.4 cm
A RARE AND LARGE 'LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE' AUTOMATON QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY the narrative scenes from The Legend of the White Snake set within three hinge-connected hardwood and glass casements, the central and largest depicting the famous battle between Bai Suzhen and her nemesis, the immortal amasses an army of underwater creatures and demons, shown in the roiling waves at the base, to attack the monastery of her enemy Fa Hai, attempting to submerge the temple but the attack fails as Fa Hai magically commands the mountain to rise out of harm's way, the temple depicted in lavish detail amidst towering, rocky mountains painted in shades of blue and green, varying trees and foliage and swirling colorful clouds, the left casement illustrates further scenes from the drama including the rescue of Bai Suzhen from the Leifeng pagoda, the right case depicting other moments from legend among them, the disapproving monk Fa Hai wielding a sword, comprising papier-mâché, silk, wire, glass, gilt and polychrome paint, the entire landscape dotted with kingfisher feather ornaments (later added from a headdress), the central case electrically wired, now mounted on a later 'Hongmu' stand (2) Height 37 1/2 in., 95.3 cm; Width 71 1/2 in., 181.6 cm; Depth 15 1/2 in., 39.4 cm
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
