Brush pot

Title
Brush pot
Year/Period
Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Region
China
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: 14.0 x 14.0 x 16.0 cm
Accession No.
2021-00833

This bamboo brush pot is carved with scenes depicting scholars engaging in various artistic and cultural pursuits within a mountain landscape. The cylin-drical body depicts three groups of scholars: one is playing weiqi (game of Go); another group is admiring a scroll while drinking tea prepared by at-tendants; and the last shows a scholar probably playing a musical instru-ment, and surrounded by an audience. Making sculpture or functional vessels out of natural materials such as bamboo, wood, ivory, and rhinoceros horn has long been a part of Chinese culture. This brushpot is carved in many layers and levels of relief – from low to high, and even openwork.