Brush holder decorated with immortals in landscape
Abundant in nature and well-suited for carving, bamboo was frequently used as a material for and subject matter in Chinese art. Artists often liken the plant’s resilience to the virtue of maintaining one’s principles in the face of adversity. The hollow stalk is associated with humility and an unprejudiced mind. Here, delicate carvings reveal immortal figures amid the landscape, transforming the humble medium into an elegant, prized object for a scholar.
Artwork Details
- 清康熙 竹雕山林仙逸圖筆筒
- Title: Brush holder decorated with immortals in landscape
- Period: Qing dynasty (1368–1644), Kangxi period (1662–1722)
- Date: late 17th–early 18th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Bamboo, wood rim and stand
- Dimensions: H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); Diam. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm); Diam. of rim: 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); Diam. of foot: 6 in. (15.2 cm)
- Classification: Bamboo
- Credit Line: Purchase, The Vincent Astor Foundation Gift, 2011
- Object Number: 2011.7
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Chinese
1368–1644
China
late 18th century
China
second half 15th century
Chinese
late 16th–early 17th century
Zhang Xihuang
early 17th century
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