A LINGZHI FUNGUS TABLE SCREEN, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The dried natural fungus head is supported on a projecting fungal growth in the back and spreading out dramatically with a lobed outline, one side with an uneven surface and naturally gnarled, the natural patina of a warm brown color. Two apertures drilled to the backside and fitted with metal hooks.

Provenance: From a Dutch private collection, assembled before 2007, and thence by descent.
Condition: Very good condition with extensive old wear, minor losses, minuscule chips, traces of use and natural decomposition, all commensurate with age.

Weight: 2,296 g
Dimensions: Length 32 cm

Expert's note: Lingzhi fungus, also known as ruyi, grows on the roots of trees, primarily in southern China. As a wish-fulfilling symbol, and believed to have medicinal benefits, it is no wonder that it has been used as an object of inspiration on the scholar's table.

Literature comparison:
A number of lingzhi fungus mounted in wood table screens are in the Imperial Collection, the largest of these, dated to the 18th century, is illustrated by Yang Xin and Zhu Chengru, in the exhibition catalog, Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial Palace, The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, California, p. 61. Another smaller fungus (21.6 cm long) mounted in a zitan table screen and dated 16th to early 17th century is illustrated by P. Moss, The Literati Mode, Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1986, pp. 188-9, no. 66.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 18 September 2003, lot 73
Price: USD 10,755 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare lingzhi fungus table screen, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Expert remark: Compare the similar size (29.2 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2 April 2018, lot 3030
Price: HKD 100,000 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A lingzhi fungus, Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the similar size (32 cm)



清代靈芝桌屏
中國，1644-1912年。乾燥的天然靈芝如傘狀，展現出層出不窮的年輪紋路，彎彎曲曲，宛若流雲紋理，呈現天然的暖棕色包漿。背面有兩個鑽孔並配有金屬鉤。

來源：荷蘭私人收藏，購於2007年前，保存至今。
品相：狀況極好，大量磨損、少量缺損、輕微磕損，有使用痕跡。

重量：2,296 克
尺寸：長 32 厘米

專家注釋：中國人的傳統工藝寶品如意，寓意順心吉祥，外形與靈芝相似。而靈芝還可入藥，所以在古代，也有很多人把乾靈芝作爲文房用品。

文獻比較：
一組宮廷收藏靈芝桌屏，其中最大型的一件為十八世紀，見Yang Xin，Zhu Chengru，The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art展覽圖錄，《Secret World of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial Palace》，聖塔安娜，頁61。另一件較小的十六至十七世紀靈芝紫檀桌屏（長21.6 厘米），見P. Moss，《The Literati Mode》，Sydney L. Moss Ltd.，倫敦，1986年，頁188-9，編號66。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2003年9月18日，lot 73
價格：USD 10,755（相當於今日EUR 16,000）
描述：清代靈芝桌屏
專家評論：比較相似的尺寸(29.2 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2018年4月2日，lot 3030
價格：HKD 100,000（相當於今日EUR 13,000）
描述：清代靈芝桌屏
專家評論：比較相似的尺寸(32 厘米)。