A CARVED BAMBOO 'NINE SCHOLARS' BRUSHPOT, BITONG 18th centuryA CARVED BAMBOO 'NINE SCHOLARS' BRUSHPOT, BITONG18th centuryOf cylindrical form, the exterior deeply carved to depict a continuous scene of 'The Nine Elders of Mountain of Fragrance' engaged at various leisurely pursuits including playing qi seated under shades of pine trees, in conversation, admiring the landscape in a distant opening by the creek, some accompanied by young attendants, all set in a rocky landscape, the mouth rim and foot applied with hardwood. 16.4cm (6 1/2in) high.十八世紀 竹鏤雕「香山九老」筆筒Compare a brushpot in the Shanghai Museum, Qianlong/Jiaqing period, carved with the same subject matter but with a slightly different arrangement of the figures, illustrated in Literati Spirit: Art of Chinese Bamboo Carving, Shanghai, 2012, no.038, pp. 98-99; and see another related bamboo brushpot, dated 1812, carved with similar subject matter, illustrated in ibid., pp.142-143, no.066.參看上海博物館藏一件清竹雕香山九老圖筆筒，其人物，樹石的雕刻手法已高度程式化，具有乾隆、嘉慶時期嘉定竹雕的風格，與本筆筒類似，見《竹鏤文心：竹刻珍品特集》，上海，2012年，編號038，頁98-99。另見一件清嘉慶十七年時澄之製竹雕香山九老圖筆筒，同著錄，編號066，頁142-143。