Handmade art piece panel made of Chinese pearl oyster shell. The panel is from one of the palaces in the city. Details of the inscription on the panel: The writing includes four Chinese characters: 1. 崖 (Yá): means "cliff" or "rocky slope." 2. 山 (Shān): means "mountain." 3. 寿 (Shòu): means "longevity." 4. 福 (Fú): means "happiness" or "blessing." Overall Meaning: The phrase generally expresses wishes for abundant goodness and a long life, which is a very common theme in Chinese art. These words are often linked to the famous saying: "Abundant luck like the eastern sea, longevity like the southern mountains." Additional Artistic Details: - Background: The mountains and trees are made in a "relief carving" style using layers of natural shell that give a pearlescent shine. - Red seal: The one located in the upper right corner is the artist's signature. Estimated Date: The panel is likely from the period between the 1960s and 1980s (1960 - 1989). Why was it found in the palace? - Gifts from delegations: These pieces were often presented as "protocol gifts" from official delegations or major companies working on infrastructure projects during that era. - Public taste: During that time (the boom era), there was a great admiration for East Asian arts in Saudi Arabia, and they were specially imported to furnish large palaces due to the intricate details and the luxurious material of "shell." Artistic Value: Its removal from a palace indicates it was carefully selected; the quality of the shell used (tinged with purple and pearlescent green) suggests it is of the pure type, not simple commercial varieties. The words written (happiness and longevity) convey a message of "well-wishing" that was always directed as a greeting to the host. Dimensions of the panel: Width 110 cm Height 60 cm Pick-up or delivery within the city and shipping outside the city. Asking price: 4500 Riyals. Anyone with more information about it, please let us know.