Page 278 - Imperial Sale Chinese Works of Art June 1 2016 HK
P. 278
THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
3395
A FINELY CARVED ‘SEVEN SAGES’ BAMBOO The ‘Seven Sages of the Bamboo Groove’ were a group of 3rd century
scholars who rejected official duties in favour of rustic life, and often
BRUSH POT gathered in a bamboo groove to drink wine and to discuss art and
literature. The theme was popularly adopted by bamboo carvers of
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY the 17th/18th century, with slight variations in the overall composition.
Compare with four similar examples, the first from the Beijing Palace
The brush pot is deeply carved around the cylindrical exterior Museum Collection, illustrated in The Palace Museum Collection of
to depict a continuous scene of the ‘Seven Sages of the Bamboo Elite Carvings, Forbidden City Publishing House, 2002, no. 29; one
Grove’ engaged in various leisurely pursuits including drinking from the Dexinshuwu Collection, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May
tea seated under the shades of bamboo, in conversation, observing 2005, lot 1291; another in the Mary and George Bloch Collection, sold
the landscape, and some listening to Xi Kang playing the qin, in a at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 23 October 2005, lot 8; and an example in
distant opening in a bamboo grove. the Feng Wen Tang collection sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 3 June
6 æ in. (17 cm.) high 2015, lot 2815.
HK$300,000-500,000 US$39,000-65,000 清十八世紀 竹雕竹林七賢圖筆筒
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