Qing Dynasty, 17th-18th Century
Height: 11.8cm
The brushpot is carved from a cylindrical bamboo section and rests
on three shallow feet. The exterior of the brushpot depicts leafy
reeds of bamboo emerging behind a rockwork landscape, the carved
lines executed freely in a manner akin to ink painting brush
strokes. A two-character Zhiyan 芷岩 mark is carved alongside a
rock.
The bamboo is patinated to a rich, glossy reddish tone.
Zhiyan 芷岩 “Angelica Cliff”, is a sobriquet (hao 號) of Zhou Hao
周顥 (1683-1773), or most commonly known by the name of Zhou Ziyan
周芷岩 [ 岩 is a variant of 嵒, the standard graph for which is 巖
“cliff”].
Zhou Hao, personal name (zi 字) 晉瞻 Jinzhan, who used several other
sobriquets, including Xueqiao 雪樵 “Snowy Firewood”, was a prominent
bamboo and wood carver of the Qing dynasty and native of Jiading
嘉定 (now part of Shanghai). He was a skilled carver, calligrapher
and painter, and was especially known for his carvings of landscapes
in the style of the Southern School.
Similar Example
A similar brushpot carved with bamboo behind rockwork by Zhou Hao
from the collection of Julia Y. Cheng is published in Bamboo Carving
of China, New York, 1983, p. 93, Catalogue No. 52.
PROVENANCE
A Japanese Private Collection
| 清十七／十八世紀 竹雕竹石圖筆筒 |
| 「芷岩」款 |
