Chen Zuzhang and other ivory carvings “Moon Man Qing You” volume

[Chen Zuzhang et al. Ivory Carving “Moon Man Qing You” Volume]

Ivory Carving “Moon Man Qing You” Volume, each page length 37.1 cm, width 32.9 cm
The complete set of “Moon Man Qing You” consists of 12 pages, which is folded in half, with a view on one side and inlaid with mother-of-pearl poetry on the other side. The title is “Moon Man Qing You”. This volume is divided into 12 pages based on the entertainment activities of the ladies in the palace from the first month to December. The scenic titles are: “Looking for Plum on a Cold Night”, “Playing Chess in Leisure Pavilion”, “Wandering Thousands in Quchi Pond”, “Douli in Shaohua”, “Appreciating Fish in Pond Pavilion”, “Picking Peng in Lotus Pond”, “Qiongyin Begging for Skill”, “Qiongtai Watching the Moon”, “Watching Chrysanthemum in Late Autumn”, “Besieging Firesides to Explore the Ancient”, “Wen Ge Embroidery”, and “Walking on the Snow to Search for Poetry”. The pictures on each page are mainly carved in ivory, and are divided into various colored stones, lapis lazuli, jasper, rubies, sapphires, agates, hawksbill, etc. For example, colored lanterns are decorated with agate and gemstones, and characters’ hair and eyebrows are painted with black paint. The screen has clear colors, distinct layers, and rich three-dimensional effects. The right page is paved with blue sand paint, with a seven-character rhythmic poem inscribed in mother-of-pearl inlay by Emperor Qianlong, which is colorful. After the poem, there are seals such as “Shufang Run” and “Qianlong Chen Han”
This set of works is based on the “Beauty Painting” by Chen Mei, a famous court painter in the Qing Dynasty, and was produced by five famous dental craftsmen, including Chen Zuzhang, Gu Pengnian, Chang Cun, Xiao Hanzhen, and Chen Guanquan, who took hundreds of days to complete the work. (In the December “Walking on the Snow to Search for Poetry” scene, the author’s name is inscribed in the shadow: “Xiao Chen Zuzhang, Gu Pengnian, Chang Cun, Xiao Hanzhen, and Chen Guanquan Gong.”). Chen Zuzhang, Chen Guanquan’s father and son, and Xiao Hanzhen are all Cantonese
This volume was originally named “The Hundred Beauties Painting” volume, and was also nominated as “Shangyuan Changchun” volume, which was later named “Moon Man Qing Tour” volume. The layout of the pictures and the activities of the characters in the album are quite different from Chen Mei’s original painting. Under the supervision of Emperor Qianlong himself, this volume is a masterpiece that combines skilled craftsmen and inlay techniques with exquisite carving. It reflects the superb level of 18th century tooth carving and inlay technology in China, and has always been known as the representative work of the Qing Dynasty tooth carving art.

象牙雕《月曼清游》册恭制款《月曼清游》册正月景“寒夜寻梅”《月曼清游》册二月景“闲亭对弈”《月曼清游》册三月景“曲池荡千”《月曼清游》册四月景“韶华斗丽”《月曼清游》册五月景“池亭赏鱼”《月曼清游》册六月景“荷塘采蓬”《月曼清游》册七月景“桐荫乞巧”《月曼清游》册八月景“琼台赏月”《月曼清游》册九月景“深秋观菊”《月曼清游》册十月景“围炉博古”《月曼清游》册十一月景“文阁刺绣”《月曼清游》册腊月景“踏雪寻诗”