Antique Chinese Scholar Lotus Leaf Brush Pot (02/25/2011)

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Antique Chinese Scholar Lotus Leaf Brush Pot

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Antique Chinese Scholar Lotus Leaf Brush Pot

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Sold Date: 02/25/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

This beautiful piece offers a look into the mind and spirit of an elite class: the Qing Dynasty Chinese Scholar . It is a brush po t, or "bitong" which is made from a single segment of bamboo into which is carved a sophisticated lotus leaf pattern. At the back of the pot you’ll see the spot where the stem of the lotus connects to the leaf. The etched vein pattern swirls around to the front of the piece, where the lotus leaf unfurls and forms a wonderfully carved seam down the center. The scalloped top and base are carved to look like the swirling edges of the leaf. The pot measures 5.5” tall x 3.25” wide . You'll love running your fingers over the undulating waves of the leaf, as I’m sure the scholar who owned it over 100 years ago did!

For thousands of years in China, scholars or "wenren" were greatly esteemed. In order to become a scholar, they had to pass a series of exams and demonstrate mastery in the five perfections: the arts of poetry, painting, calligraphy, Chinese medicine and taijiquan, or tai chi.

The scholar’s tools were what distinguished him from the common tradesman. These tools were called the "four treasures". They are the writing-brush, ink stone, ink, and paper.

Scholars also collected high quality art objects, some functional, some inspirational, most small enough to decorate his desk. One of the most important desktop accessories was the wooden brush pot. Brush pots can be made from a variety of woods, such as burl, bamboo, boxwood, and even prized hardwoods. They can be made to follow their natural form, highlighting the natural beauty of the wood, or they can be intricately carved with calligraphy or reliefs depicting scenes from antiquity. The scholar’s tools and accessories also provided inspiration through their symbolic content.

Bamboo was a revered material for a bitong, because it in itself is symbolic of the scholar due to it’s strength, grace and resilience. The straight stem of bamboo symbolizes the path towards enlightenment, the segments of the stem being the steps along the way.

The lotus is the symbol for faithfulness and the achievement of enlightenment. It represents purity, divine wisdom, and the individual's progress from the lowest to the highest state of consciousness. It symbolizes the most exalted state of man, with his head held high, pure and undefiled, with his feet rooted in the world of experience. The lotus inspires people to continue striving through difficulties and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the circumstances may be.

“I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained” - Zhou Dunyi, Confucian scholar.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED IN AS IS CONDITION - PHOTOS REFLECT THE EXCELLENT CONDITION THAT IT IS IN.

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