A SILVER-INLAID ZITAN 'BIRDS AND FLOWERS' BRUSHPOT MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY

of cylindrical form with straight walls rising from a slightly bulging circular base to a flat rim, the mouth decorated with bands of silver wire in a meandering foliate scroll and key-fret, the exterior deftly carved in low relief with a continuous garden scene, featuring a pair of magpies perched on a blossoming prunus tree, a long-tailed pheasant gazing at its mate on a lower branch and a further bird in flight nearby, all amidst flowering camellia, narcissus and lingzhi fungus issuing from pierced rockwork, all above a peony scroll encircling the foot, the base engraved in clerical script with three characters reading Ziyan ge ('Pavilion of Purple Smoke'), the wood of a dark brown tone

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 10th April 2006, lot 1653.

There is a 0.5 x 4 cm section above the foot which has been replaced. The circular base is made from a separate piece of wood. There are some typical minor losses to the silver inlays on the rim. Apart from a 3.5 cm age crack around the base, as well as some occasional minor chips and dents, especially to the underside, the overall condition is quite good. The actual patina is somewhat deeper and warmer compared to the catalogue photo.
"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."

Few examples of late Ming dynasty zitan carving of this exceptional quality have survived and the present brushpot ranks among the finest known in this medium. In its carving style it is closely related to contemporary lacquer wares rather than bamboo carvings. The theme of pheasants on flowering branches was especially popular on imperial lacquerware of the 16th century. A close comparison of birds and prunus blossoms on a brushpot and the same subject matter on a cinnabar lacquer bowl, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in Carved Lacquer in the Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1984, pl. 117, brings forth the similarities of the treatment, except for the absence of a diaper ground on the brushpot.

See two further dishes with pheasants perched on flowering branches, ibid., pl. 119 and 120, as well as a cinnabar lacquer brushpot of the same period finely carved with prunus blossoms but lacking the bird motif, also in the Palace Museum, illustrated ibid., pl. 121. It is conceivable that lacquer craftsmen would have equally worked on hardwoods.  

The silver inlay wire circling the side of the rim and on the top is characteristic of later Ming wood brushpots. On this piece, the style of the key-fret, as well as the foliate classic scroll on top are again intimately related to stylised borders found on lacquer objects of the period.

The origins of Ziyan ge ('Pavilion of Purple Smoke') remains a matter of debate as there are a number of historical and fictional sites in China with this name. For example, to the southwest of the famous Xiangshan ('Fragrant Hills') located in the outskirts of Beijing, there is a pavilion called Ziyan ge which got its name from a poem by Li Bai (701-762) titled Wang Lushan pu bu ('Watching From Afar the Waterfall on Mount Lu').