A SILVER-INLAID ZITAN-MOUNTED CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER BRUSHPOT, BITONG QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG/JIAQING PERIOD

the exterior deftly carved in undercut relief with scholars engaged in various literati pursuits within a landscape, one seated in front of a pavilion playing the qin to two other scholars, another figure holding a staff journeying towards two literati conversing on a bridge, an attendant holding a pile of books in the distance, the rim and base mounted in zitan wood inlaid with silver wires

Spink & Son, London.

The brushpot is in general good condition with the exception of minor nicks along the extremities, including the edge of the roof of the pavilion, the leaves on the trees, near the rim and the base where the brushpot is mounted with wood. The wood has some minor loss to the silver wire inlay, there are minor surface wear and small nicks particularly to the three feet.
"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."

The present brushpot belongs to a small group of carved cinnabar lacquer brushpots of related subject and form. Compare a brushpot of similar size, bearing a Jiaqing four-character mark and carved with the famous scene of 'Carrying a Qing and Visiting a Friend' in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo qiqi quanji, vol. 6, Fuzhou, 1993, pl. 382; and an unmarked example depicting the 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2006, lot 105. See also a brushpot attributed to the Qianlong period carved with the scene of Wang Xizhi exchanging his calligraphy for geese in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the exhibition Emperor Ch'ien-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise, Taipei, 2002, cat.no. I-44.

Compare also a larger example carved with scholars gathered in a garden illustrated in James C.Y. Watt and Barbara Brennan Ford, East Asian Lacquer. The Florence Herbert Irving Collection, New York, 1991, cat.no. 44.