Set of Eight Scholars Utopia Panels

The grand height and exquisite decorations make this set of eight 19th-century lattice panels a truly rare find. Likely the once courtyard doors of a fine Qing-dynasty home in southern China, these tall panels were crafted with light and open latticework framed by densely carved panels. These detailed carvings depict Qing-dynasty scholars in courtly settings as they cultivate their creativity and transcendent knowledge. Tiered pavilions, garden scholars' rocks, and intricate latticework set the scene for these scholarly pursuits and illustrate the esteem with which scholars were held in Chinese culture. Abstract dragons top the panels with meandering scrollwork and the ends are flanked by panels of scholars riding on the backs of auspicious mythical creatures, including oxen and qilin. An astonishing display of Qing-dynasty craftsmanship and imagery, these panels offer a window into the life and culture of a bygone era.

We've backed these panels with "Utopia" fabric by Pierre Frey. The abstracted blossoms play beautifully off the garden settings carved beneath—together creating a harmonious East-West garden.

Dimensions listed describe an individual panel. Panels can be used all together as a dramatic backdrop or in smaller groups.