A 'BALLAD OF THE ARMY CARTS' BAMBOO BRUSHPOT QING DYNASTY, 17TH / 18TH CENTURY

deftly carved with an excerpt from Bingche xing ('Ballad of the Army Carts') by the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (712-770), the bamboo richly patinated to a rich reddish-brown colour

The overall condition is very good with only occasional minute nicks to the extremities, expected age cracks and old stains.
"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 inscription consists of a long excerpt from the famous Bingche xing [Ballad of the Army Carts] composed by the celebrated Tang poet Du Fu (712-770) and can be translated as follows:

'Though you ask, kind sir / Dare we conscripts express resentment? / Take for example, winter of this year / With troops west of the passes still not demobilized / District officials yet harassed us for land taxes / But where could we ever find a way to pay? / We truely know that to beget a son is bad / And on the contrary to beget a daughter is good / Beget a daughter, and she can marry a neighbour / Beget a son, and he will be buried to vanish along with the grass.'