18th century Exquisitely carved and pierced in high relief as a section of a gnarled tree trunk, enveloped by large lingzhi stems and heads, blossoming prunus branches and bamboo leaves, the lustrous wood of rich dark chocolate-brown tone, with scattered silver grains. 14.5cm (5 3/4in) high.
十七/十八世紀 紫檀雕樹樁式筆筒
Provenance: Arts of China, Hong Kong Dr. Thomas Navratil, Zürich, acquired from the above in 1987, Hong Kong (col.no.77) Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London Teddy Hahn (1933-2012), acquired from the above 15 November 1999
Published and Illustrated:Orientations, 1987 (Advertisement, The Arts of China, Hong Kong) Sydney L. Moss Ltd., Escape from the Dusty World: Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art, London, 1999, no.40
來源： Arts of China，香港 Thomas Navratil博士，蘇黎世，於1987年獲得於上處，香港（收藏編號77） 倫敦古董商Sydney L. Moss Ltd. Teddy Hahn（1933-2012），於1999年11月15日從上處獲得
出版著錄：《Orientations》，1987年（廣告頁The Arts of China 香港） Sydney L. Moss Ltd.，《Escape from the Dusty World. Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art》，倫敦，1999年，編號40
This brushpot is crafted from the highly prized and esteemed zitan wood, a timber reserved exclusively for the master craftsmen of the zaobanchu (Imperial Palace Workshops). Renowned for its jade-like silky texture, exceptionally fine and dense grain, and rich, deep lustre, zitan was the favoured material of the Ming and Qing Courts.
Compare with a large and naturalistically carved zitan brushpot from the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, no.51.
In his 1999 catalogue, Paul Moss remarks on this piece: 'Such a tour de force of pierced zitan is most unusual, and one might suspect it of dating to the nineteenth century, or even later, were it not stylistically and in terms of surface and wear convincing; and but for the fact that adequately large pieces of zitan were hardly obtainable after the 18th century.' See Sydney L. Moss Ltd., Escape from the Dusty World: Chinese Paintings and Literati Works of Art, London, 1999, no.40.
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