A finely carved 'Seven Sages' bamboo brushpot Qing dynasty, 18th century

of cylindrical form supported on three small feet, the exterior skilfully carved in deep relief with the 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' in leisurely pursuit, attended by five acolytes within a dense bamboo grove along a rocky riverbank, one scholar approaches a bridge with his attendant and the others drink wine, play the qin and converse, while four acolytes carry a picnic-box and various supplies towards the seated group, the rock face with a six-column inscription followed by the seal Yuan

The Chinese Scholar's Desk, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1979, cat.no. 11.

The inscription translates as:

'Farther side of the mountain where it's lush and deep green;
There in fresh cool shade by a sonorous spring;
Are the two Ruans and Bolun;
Drinking deeply, happily rapt with wine;
Accompanied by one melody, the Guangling;
For which Shuye kept the true legacy.
Ziqi and Junchong are there, too;
Composing poetry with complete harmony of mind;
And off by himself behaving in his own special way;
Is Zhuyuan who provides this record;
Entirely at leisure and with all contentment.
Here thus are the Seven Sages of the Jin.'
Signed 'Respectfully recorded by Official Yuan'  followed by the seal Yuan.

The present piece is especially fine for its detailed and naturalistic carving.  Although the poetic description of the sages is given by Zhuyuan, a reference to Xu Shipu (1608-1658), zi  Zhuyan, who was a noted poet and calligrapher of the 17th century, the identity of the carver remains uncertain based only on his family name.  Whether he carved or commissioned the piece from an established bamboo carver who remains anonymous, the form of address in signing the present piece "Official Yuan" suggests that this brushpot was made for presentation to the Emperor.

The 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' were scholars and artists of the 3rd century A.D. who regularly met in a bamboo grove to drink wine, discuss arts and literature and enjoy unspoiled nature. By rejecting an official career they came to represent a social movement that advocated individual freedom, self-expression and the Daoist ideology of harmony with nature.

Similar examples of bamboo brushpots depicting this group of sages can be found in Masterpieces of Chinese Writing Materials in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1971, pl. 25, and in the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art illustrated in Ip Yee and Laurence Tam, Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, Hong Kong, 1978, pl. 70.  Compare also a related bamboo brushpot from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, which was sold in these rooms, 22nd November 1984, lot 858; and another in our London rooms, 12th June 2003, lot 12.