By the 17th century, Guo Ziyi, who lived a long life and raised eight successful sons, had become a paragon of Confucian virtue, and a metaphor for conveying wishes for longevity, wealth, and rank. Screens like this would have been used at celebrations and given as congratulatory gifts to distinguished members of the Joseon court.
More than 40 similar screens are known in museums collections but only a few are signed and sealed.
This example, whichcame for sale as part of the Asian art sale at Dreweatts (26/25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) in Newbury on November 8-9, has two seals for the artist Kim Deuk-sin (1754-1822), the son of a royal court painter, Kim Eungri.
The estimate was £8000-10,000 but bidding reached £175,000. It was sold to a US bidder who intends it to go to an institution.
The screen was originally from a private West Coast collection in the US, having been purchased in Tokyo in 1946. At the time the family ran the US occupying forces entertainment programme.
