A Chinese folding screen, mid 20th century.
Painted in black, decorated with carved decoration in green stone of scholars objects of archaic models and exotic animals, height 183 cm, total width 243 cm (6x40,5 cm).
Wear. Cracks due to dryness of the material. Scratches. Chip. Marks, damage to edges. Natural inclinings on stone and minor cracks.
Provenance
From the Collection of Paul Butler (1892-1981), Chicago Illinois, thence by descent. Paul Butlers family fortune came from papermaking, that dated back to the colonial era. He was an accomplished horseman, poloplayer and photographer, and served during WW1 with the American expeditionary forces as a cavalry officer and reconnaissance photographer. After the war he returned to the family business and served as President of Butler Paper Company, from 1930 to 1965, but soon noticed a business opportunity in private aircrafts. The business expanded after WW2, and soon Butler Aviation opened facilities In Chicago, La Guarida, Palm Beach etc.