A RARE OPENWORK BAMBOO 'SCHOLARS AND IMMORTALS' BRUSHPOT QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

of cylindrical section and mounted on a hardwood base, the exterior intricately carved in openwork and high relief with three scenes portraying scholars and immortals gathering under gnarled branches issuing pine blossoms and engaging in various leisurely activities, one scene depicting three figures seated around a table concentrating on a game of chess whilst another figure stands and watches in the background, another scene skilfully rendered of two scholars playing the flute and zither respectively with two others listening nearby, one of them holding a double-gourd by a river, the remaining scene with two figures holding out an open scroll and two figures admiring it attentively, an attendant picked out in the background, the surface patinated to a rich reddish-brown colour, Japanese box

Christie's Hong Kong, 29th April 2002, lot 690.

The current brushpot is outstanding for the quality of the openwork carving and naturalistic depiction of the figures, all skilfully carved within the natural contours of the rocky landscape. For other closely related examples of similar composition, see a brushpot in the Shanghai Museum depicting a literati gathering, illustrated in Literati Spirit. Art of Chinese Bamboo Carving, Shanghai, 2001; and a brushpot from the Dr Ip Yee collection, illustrated by Ip Yee and Laurence C. S. Tam, Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, Hong Kong, 1978, p. 211, pl. 40.