Page 328 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

3717
A CARVED BAMBOO ‘QIAO SISTERS’ 清十八世紀
BRUSH POT 竹雕雙喬並讀圖筆筒
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
the cylindrical body of gently waisted form
and resting on three short feet, the exterior
carved in low relief with the Qiao sisters, one
depicted seated on a daybed, the other on a
low stool, both reading from a single book, each
figure portayed dressed in long flowing robes,
the background with a table decorated with a
teapot, cup, incense burner and tools and a gu
vessel issuing a bouquet, the bamboo patinated
to a rich reddish-brown colour
15.2 cm, 6 in.

HK$ 100,000-150,000
US$ 12,800-19,200

This finely carved brush pot, rendered with
the popular scene of the two Qiao sisters,
represents the height of bamboo carving in
the late Ming and early Qing periods. The Qiao
sisters in Chinese history became legendary for
their beauty and for marrying two famous war
heroes. They were the daughters of the official
Qiao Xuan (109-83) of the late Han dynasty,
with one marrying the warlord Sun Ce, and
the other marrying Sun’s close friend, General
Zhou Yu.