A Pair of Chinese Kingfisher Feather and Embellished Panels

Qing dynasty (1644-1912), extremely fine and rare, black velvet ground embellished with Chinese landscape scenes of officials and elegant ladies conversing along the riverside in boats and gatherings, the faces and hands of the figures carved out of , their clothing together with the birds and flora are meticulously formed with brilliant blue and purple kingfisher feathers, gilt, enamels, and wood, both framed identically in carved rosewood frames with peony scroll decoration along the thick outside band and key motif to the thinner interior band, both with two metal hangers shaped like ruyi crafted with pairs of dragons and a bat, symbols of longevity.
Framed dimensions 27 1/2 x 34 1/2 in., Sight size 22 1/2 x 29 in.
From the Estate of the late Steve Leder, Wilson, North Carolina

Some tears and wear to black ground velvet; some losses to branches of trees and to figures hands; some loose gilt threads; some rubbing and loss to gilt on trees and feathers on figures.