This folding-screen features a surreal, fairytale-like narrative painted against a stark black lacquer background, filled with vibrant mythical figures, ornate flora, and musical motifs
On the left panel we see a forest queen, a blue-eyed woman with an exposed torso, wearing an elaborate nature-themed crown made of white lilies, spiked green and gold leaves, and a pearl-tipped tiara
She wears flowing blue detached sleeves with a gold chevron trim, a skirt constructed entirely from layers of vibrant green feathers and leaves, and holds her index finger up in a symbolic gesture
Below her stands a gnarled, mossy tree trunk highlighted in bright yellow-gold, flanked by oversized thistles and a prominent gold-leafed frond.
On the middle panel we see a majestic, stylised phoenix commanding the lower half of the canvas, adorned with a tall golden crown
A small, fluffy chick stands beside it, also sporting a matching miniature golden crown
The right panel is a symphony of nature with a large, intricate mandala on the top of the panel, featuring concentric geometric petals in gold, orange, green, and sky blue
A large cello or viola da gamba stands upright in the centre, accompanied by a smaller, ornate blue lyre resting at its base
A beautifully rendered white-winged bird with a blue crest swoops across the centre, while a soft blue-grey owl perches attentively on the cello’s shoulder
The scene is grounded by highly detailed flora, including delicate white starburst wildflowers, golden leaf silhouettes, thistles, and a striped melon-like gourd
Signed on the lower left panel
Noëlla Lammers (1915-1990) was a Belgian surrealistic painter known for her highly expressive work
In good vintage condition, some minor signs of use