AN UNUSUAL HARDSTONE INLAID BLACK LACQUER BRUSHPOT 17TH CENTURY

of cylindrical form resting on three small feet, colourfully inlaid with carnelian, mother-of-pearl, marble and soapstone depicting gnarled prunus branches growing from jagged rockwork, the prunus in full blossom interspersed with small buds, with butterflies fluttering above

See three sandalwood brushpots, from the Qing Court collection,  inlaid with semi-precious stones, two forming floral designs and the third forming a design of plum blossom and birds illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Hong Kong, 2002, pls. 235, 236 and 238. Another brushpot decorated in this inlay technique with a butterfly and a flowering prunus branch was sold in these rooms, 15th November 1989, lot 515; and one with fruits and flowers was also sold in these rooms, 18th May 1988, lot 348.