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A WHITE JADE ‘BOYS’
BRUSH WASHER
XU LIN
This white jade ‘boys’ brush washer (lot 3410), This jade brush washer was originally in the
18.4 cm long, 12 cm wide and 6.3 cm high, is collection of Charles Stanley Nott and illustrated
carved from high quality Hetian white jade. The in his book, published in 1942. This book was
jade is smooth to touch, bright and brilliant. a limited edition of 1000 copies. A copy sold
Of oval form, it is skillfully worked, flanked by at Christie’s New York auction, September
two boys depicted climbing at the rim, both 2012. Nott lived from 1902 to 1957, and was an
plump with exaggerated heads and ears, and important jade collector, scholar and researcher.
smiling faces. When we examine it closely, we He published books about jade, starting in
immediately appreciate its lustrous quality. The 1927 with his research notes and images. They
whole object is exquisite, one boy carved with illustrate considerable numbers of jade found in
evergreen in his hand, the other with lingzhi, overseas collections, of which the majority of the
meaning ‘Wannian ruyi’ (‘May you live for 10,000 Imperial jades illustrated in the books came from
years’). The exterior of the washer is carved with his own private collection. They also recalled
lingzhi, and the leaves and trunks extend down his research into Chinese jade, including its
to the base. The interior and exterior are both development and workmanship. He is one of the
polished to the same level of perfection, and the earliest Westerners to learn, love and research
details are perfect. It is preserved complete with jade.
its original wood stand, made from two parts
It can be said of brush washers, that people’s
which stand together. The upper part is carved
first impression is that they are from the
with lingzhi, bamboo and rocks, the lower part
scholar’s desk. There is a book from the Ming
embellished with silver. The upper part of the
Dynasty scholar Gao Lian, ‘Zunsheng Bajian’,
stand perfectly fits the lower contours of the
that talks of the function of the brush washer:
brush washer. Clearly it was created for the
current jade washer. The surface of the washer “After you use the brush to write, place it in
is exquisite. From the superb workmanship and the washer to wash out the ink. Otherwise the
the delicate articulation of the face, the robes, brush will get crispy and not last long. From
the shape of the boys and the stand itself, it is here you can see the washer is used for washing
typical mid Qing workmanship, and clearly fits brushes.” 1
the characteristics of Qianlong workmanship.