Page 206 - Christies September 13 to 14th Fine Chinese Works of Art New York

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION
1224
A BLACK, RED AND YELLOW TIXI LACQUER BRUSH AND COVER
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The brush handle and cover are both deeply carved through red,
yellow and black lacquer layers with ruyi-shaped swirls.
9√ in (25 cm.). long, Japanese wood box and silk pouch
$20,000-30,000

PROVENANCE
Sydney L. Moss, Ltd., London
The name for this type of lacquer, tixi, literally means ‘carved rhinoceros,’
and derives from the Chinese term xipi, which is used to describe marbled
lacquer as it resembles the hide of a rhinoceros. However, although both
techniques involve the application of layers of lacquer in diferent colors,
and their exposure for decorative purposes, the methods vary considerably.

In the xipi technique, the layers of diferently colored lacquer are applied to a
deliberately uneven surface and the diferent colors are revealed by rubbing
down the surface. In the tixi technique, the diferent colors are revealed by
carving designs in wide U-shaped or V-shaped lines.

This type of tixi lacquer is often referred to by the Japanese term guri lacquer
in the West. The word guri refers to pommel scroll, which these designs
are thought to resemble. The equivalent Chinese term is jianhuan (sword
[pommel] scroll), but these lacquers are most often referred to in Chinese by
the term tixi. The most popular design, as seen on the present brush, is usually
described as ruyi yun wen (ruyi cloud pattern).
明 剔犀如意紋筆

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