A BAMBOO BRUSHPOT WITH SCHOLARS QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

of heart-shape section gently flaring at the mouth, finely carved in high-relief and openwork with a continuous scene of scholars in a garden nestled amidst trees, with a young gentleman talking to a lady leaning out of an open window, while a scholar drinks tea and converses with another elder across the balustrade, and a further young scholar enjoys the beauty of lotus blooming from a basin, inscribed on the left of the natural fissure with the characters Bao Mo Xuan ('Hall of Treasured Ink'), signed Zhi'an, followed by a seal Juping, the bottom attached to a wooden base

The bamboo brushpot was formed artificially, most likely from soaking the bamboo to soften it and then shaping it into the current form. The bamboo naturally cracked along one side. To prevent further cracks, small bamboo pegs were inserted around the mouth into each small crack to stabilize the cracks. The carving is in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Masterfully carved in high-relief with extraordinary attention to detail, the present brushpot captures an impressive sense of depth and three-dimensionality through the carving of the figures in the round. For a brushpot similarly carved with large figures in a bamboo grove that extends to the rim in high undercut relief, see one from the Mary and George Bloch collection, included in the exhibition The Chinese Scholar's Desk, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1979, cat. no. 11, sold in these rooms, 23^rd October 2005, lot 8; and another, but depicting numerous small figures in a vast landscape, included in the exhibition Chinese Bamboo Carving, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1978, cat. no. 76.

A native of Huangyan, Zhekiang province, Fang Jie, whose studio names were Zhi'an and Juping, was active during the reign of the Daoguang emperor (1821-50) and excelled in seal-carving and portraiture, as well as being famous for carving miniature figures with great detail and in a realistic manner.