A SUITE OF FOUR (4) ‘FOUR GENTLEMEN - BỐN QUÝ ÔNG - 四君子’ LACQUERED WOODEN PANELS BY THE STUDIO OF NGUYEN THÀNH LÊ (1919-2003) VIETNAM, 20TH CENTURY Each is of rectangle vertical shape, originally forming a folding screen. Adorned in gilt lacquer against a black ground with ‘The Four Plants of Virtue’ (‘Bốn Quý Ông’, ‘四君子’), i.e. the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Dimensions (each fold): H: 40,2 cm - w: 12 cm Note: ‘The Four Gentlemen’ also known as ‘The Four Plants of Virtue’, include the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Each of these plants represents one of the seasons. The four plants together represent a year.