A PAIR OF BAMBOO ‘OX-HERD’ BRUSHPOTS, BITONG, QING DYNASTY

Opinion:
Finely carved and incised with openwork and deep undercutting, most cleverly combining high and low reliefs of different colors with a multitude of depth grades and variations of polishes to enhance both contrast and perspectives for the viewer.

China, 18th-19th century. Each of cylindrical form and deeply carved from a single bamboo node to depict matching scenes with a herdsman and two oxen in a forest with gnarled pine and wutong trees, craggy rockwork, and wispy clouds. (2)


Provenance:
From a private collection in Brisbane, Australia.

Condition:
Very good condition with expected old wear, traces of use, natural age cracks, few small shallow chips, light scratches. Fine, naturally grown golden-brown patina.

Weight: 378.1 g and 408.1 g
Dimensions: Height 16.2 cm and 16.3 cm


Around the late-Ming and early Qing dynasty
, the Jiading school bamboo carvers started to combine high and low reliefs to give variety and contrast. The very early works from this school have most likely served as a direct inspiration for the present lot. The levels of different depths in protrusion increased from initially only a simple one or two to ‘deep and shallow altogether five or six different grades’ by the time of Kangxi’s early reign. For further discussion of the Jiading School and numerous examples of related bamboo brushpots, see The National Palace Museum, Taipei, Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats - The Carvings of Ming and Qing Dynasties.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2012, lot 134
Price: HKD 375,000 or approx.
EUR 59,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small bamboo ‘ox-herd’ brushpot, Qing dynasty, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, material and form. Note the earlier dating and that this lot comprises a single brushpot (as opposed to the present pair).




清代一對竹雕《牧牛圖》筆筒


中國，十八至十九世紀。圓柱形筆筒，由單個竹節雕刻而成，描繪了一個牧童和兩隻牛在林中的場景，四周可見松樹和梧桐樹、岩石，天上有雲彩。


專家注釋
:
刀工深峻，而且線條鋼勁有力，圓雕、透雕、高浮雕等技術，雕工精湛，以增強觀看者的對比度和視角。


來源
：
澳洲布里斯本私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損、使用痕跡、自然老化裂紋、輕微缺口與劃痕，精美、自然生長的金棕色包漿。

重量：分別爲378.1克與408.1 克
尺寸：高分別爲 16.2 釐米與16.3 釐米


明清時期
，竹雕、竹刻藝術逐漸繁榮，雕刻手法豐富多樣。尤其是嘉定竹雕工藝。其中以嘉定竹雕最富盛名。嘉定竹雕將高低浮雕相結合，整體場景豐富，故事性極強，具有合理的場景佈局。嘉定派早期作品很可能是本拍品的直接靈感來源。雕刻的深淺程度由最初的簡單的一、二層，發展到康熙初年的深淺共五、六級。 有關嘉派的進一步討論以及相關竹雕筆筒，請參閱臺北故宮博物院的《Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats - The Carvings of Ming and Qing Dynasties》。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2012年4月3日，lot 134
價格：HKD 375,000（相當於今日
EUR 59,000
）
描述：清十七／十八世紀竹雕「山中放牧」圖筆筒
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、材料和外形。請注意年代較早，以及此拍品只有一個筆筒。