A LACQUERED ROOT WOOD BRUSHREST, LATE MING - EARLY QING DYNASTYExpert’s note: Objects made of root wood, such as the present sculpture, embody the Daoist concept of qi, the spirit-energy of which all things are made. The organic forms of these materials were appealing as they conveyed a sense of humility and a connection to nature. Although initially chosen for their natural shape, these pieces were often enhanced or worked by hand in order to emphasize or clarify certain characteristics in the material, all while aiming to retain the inherent authenticity.China, 17th-18th century. The gnarled and weathered specimen of warm brown color, the uneven surface stretching horizontally, with interlocking knots and projections creating a sense of vitality and dynamism.Provenance: Belgian trade. By repute from an old estate in Antwerp.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few small losses, expected age cracks, and some weathering.Weight: 880 gDimensions: Length 35.1 cmAuction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s London, 11 November 2015, lot 158Estimate: GBP 2,000 or approx.EUR 3,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A small root wood brush rest, Qing dynastyExpert remark:pare the related form and color. Note the much smaller size (14 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 6 April 2014, lot 3635Price: HKD 187,500 or approx.EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A tree root 'mountain', Qing dynasty, 18th / 19th centuryExpert remark:pare the closely related form, color, and size (36 cm).明末清初癭木筆擱中國，十七至十八世紀。明顯風化的暖棕色癭木，枝莖蔓延於器表，韻味古樸，外壁精心打磨。環環相扣的結和突起營造出一種充滿活力的感覺。專家注釋：由癭木製成的物品，例如現在的筆擱，體現了道家“氣韻”的概念，氣是萬物的精神能量。這些材料的有機形式很有吸引力，因為它們傳達了一種謙遜和與自然的聯繫。 雖然最初選擇它們是為了它們的自然形狀，但這些作品通常經過加工，以強調或闡明材料的某些特徵，同時旨在保留內在的真實性。