Page 158 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

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A RARE CHENXIANGMU 十七世紀

‘LANDSCAPE’ BRUSHPOT 沉香木雕山村歸客圖筆筒
17TH CENTURY

the gently tapering and fluted sides carved in various levels
of high relief on the exterior, depicting idyllic landscape
scenes of plantain, wutong, pine trees, bamboo and leafy
shrubs growing from cascade rocks, interrupted by sheltered
cottages and distant figures within, mounted with a curved rim
and hardwood base, the dark wood patinated to an oily finish,
the interior lacquered and fitted with a copper lining
w. 15 cm, 5⅞ in.
◉ HK$ 800,000-1,000,000
US$ 102,000-128,000

Chenxiangmu (eagleswood) brushpots are rare objects for
the scholar’s desk. They usually retain the natural form of the
wood, and are characteristically decorated with applied relief
scenes pieced from smaller sections of wood as seen on the
current brushpot. The three-dimensional composition of this
brushpot is enhanced through the sophisticated use of high
and low relief carving. The natural knots of the wood have
been cleverly incorporated into the decoration conveying a
naturalistic rocky cascade.
For a closely related brushpot, with landscape decoration in
similar protruding relief, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see
Zhongguo zhumu yajiao qi quanji [The complete collection
of Chinese bamboo, wood, ivory and rhinoceros horn], vol.
4: Ya jiao qi [ivory and rhinoceros horn], Beijing, 2009, cat.
no. 51. Another example from the Qing court collection,
with remarkably similar treatment to the trees and rocks, is
illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the
Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn
Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 49.

156 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比