Page 260 - Christie's, Important Chinese Works of Art, Hong Kong Dec 3 2021

CRAFTING THE INK:

BRUSHWORK ON CHINESE

WORKS OF ART

The representation of brushwork on objects is a unique genre on Chinese
works of art and deserves special attention. On these objects, artists seek to
recreate the texture and spontaneity of ink on paper in a different medium,
thereby attaining the ultimate ideal of Chinese aesthetics - qiyun shengdong
氣韻生動 (rhythmic vitality). It is technically very difficult to show fluidity
without appearing laboured, and required consummate skills on the part
of the craftsman. The current collection of five objects, two on wood and
three on porcelain, are great examples of the genre, each representing a
different style. fig. 1
圖一
The huanghuali brushpot with calligraphic script (lot 3059) is inspired
by Zhao Mengfu’s works Tianguanshan Shitie (Poems in calligraphy on
Tianguan Mountain) (figs. 1 & 2). It is dated 1706 and signed Shijun,
the sobriquet of Tang Sunhua (1634-1723), a Kangxi period official who
attained Jinshi degree in 1688. He became an imperial examiner but
resigned in 1696 after a minor fault, and thereafter he spent his time visiting
famous mountains and writing poems. His calligraphy diverges from Zhao’s
aristocratic, poised style significantly and is much more unbridled – perhaps
a reflection of his state of mind after relinquishing official duties. The
craftsman who carved the calligraphy really shows the freedom and energy
of the brushwork – a particularly difficult feat when carving in running
script.
detail of brush pot
筆墨潛化 — 器物上筆法的表現 細部

許多中國器物上都以不同方法及媒介呈現筆法跟筆觸，是其它文化少見
的，值得單獨分為一個探討主題。在這些器物上，工匠試著在非紙的界
面上表達筆法的質感及筆觸的即興，藉以達到中國美學的最高境界—
氣韻生動。技術上，要能達到流暢而不做作實非易事，需要匠人精湛的
工藝才能完成。這裏的五件作品—兩件木器三件瓷器，便是其中的佼
佼者，各擅勝場。

一件刻著詩文的黄花梨筆筒（拍品3059）以趙孟頫的《天冠山詩帖》為
出發點，意境卻大不相同（圖一及二）。此筆筒帶有丙戌年的紀年，即
康熙三十五年，落款實君，為唐孫華的字，他康熙二十七年得進士，于
翰林院行走。三十五年任浙江主考官，因失職辭官，自此寄情山水，探
fig. 2
訪各地名岳，登臨游宴。他的書法比趙孟頫雍容有度的風格更為灑脫奔 圖二
放，或許跟他不被世俗羈擾的心境有關。刻字的匠人將其筆法的流暢氣
韻圓滿呈現，這是刻行書字體難得的高超境界。

detail of brush pot
細部
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