Title
Brush pot
Year/Period
Late Qing dynasty (late 17th century)
Region
China
Object Type
brush holder
Material
wood (plant material)
Technique
woodworking
Dimension
Object size: H15.4 x Dia 16.5 cm
Accession No.
2000-05643
Collection of
NLB Type
Woodcarving
The Chinese literati valued beauty that was inspired by nature, and this preference was vividly reflected in the objects they chose for their studios. The 'hongmu' brush pot shown here was made from of a single piece of red sandalwood. Its unadorned surface imparts a sense of simple elegance, while the natural configuration of the wood grain suggests illusory images. Brush pots were a typical accoutrement of a Chinese scholar’s desk.
