Folding screen - Burr walnut - Kashmiri room screen 1915

Monumental 4-piece Kashmiri room screen – deeply hand-carved and pierced wood – floral motifs – ca. 1900–1930

Very large and richly executed four-panel room screen, probably originating from Kashmir / North India and dating from the early part of the 20th century.

The screen is notable especially for the exceptionally large amount of deeply hand-carved and fully pierced relief work. The panels are composed of floral tendrils, flowers and characteristic leaf motifs, with leaves and branches cut at different levels over and under each other. This creates a beautiful three-dimensional effect with great depth and shading.

Also the wide uprights and horizontal rules are almost entirely hand-decorated. They feature continuous bands of flowers and tendrils against a finely worked background. A closer study reveals how much artisanal craftsmanship is contained in this screen.

The four tall panels are crowned at the top by separately pierced floral ornaments. Even the lower open sections are provided with cut flower motifs and graceful, Oriental-formed arches.

Probably made from a heavy hardwood, possibly Kashmiri walnut, a wood traditionally widely used for the very refined carving from this region.

Dimensions:
Height: ca. 180 cm
Width per panel: ca. 45 cm
Total width when fully opened: ca. 180 cm
Panel thickness: ca. 4 cm
Weight: ca. 60 kg

The screen has a lovely warm patina and signs of use appropriate to its age. In the past, some small portions of the fragile pierced carving were damaged. The missing parts have since been carefully restored, so the decorative ensemble again looks complete.

Old restorations and local signs of use remain visible and are part of the object's history.

A very imposing interior piece that can be placed as a room screen, room divider or as an independent decorative art object.

Due to its size, weight and especially the very deep carving, this is a considerably more valuable execution than the more common, lighter-carved Indian decorative screens.

Condition: good antique state with signs of age and use and restorations; see the extensive photos for an accurate impression.

Because of the size and especially the weight, pickup is strongly preferred.