19TH CENTURY CHINESE QING DYNASTY CARVED ZITAN LOTUS SCHOLAR'S OBJECT / BRUSH REST

An antique Chinese carved zitan hardwood scholar's object dating to the Qing dynasty, 19th century.

The piece is extensively carved in the form of a lotus plant, with overlapping lotus leaves, flowering and budding lotus blossoms, seed pods and long curling stems worked throughout the composition.

Its sculptural form and raised scrolling stems allow the piece to function as a scholar's brush rest, while the circular recessed opening incorporated into the design suggests that it may also have been intended as a fitted stand or support for another small object.

For this reason, it is catalogued here as a scholar's object / brush rest and display stand rather than assigning a single definitive original function.

The carving is executed in varying levels of relief with pierced openwork sections, creating considerable depth and movement across the relatively compact form.

The reverse is also fully worked, with a large naturalistically carved lotus leaf and curling stems continuing across the back rather than being left undecorated.

The lotus is an important traditional subject in Chinese art, associated with purity and refinement, and was particularly appropriate to objects associated with the scholar's studio.

The dense zitan hardwood has a deep dark reddish-purple / brown appearance, with warmer reddish tones visible in areas of wear.

Date:

Qing Dynasty, 19th Century.

Material:

Zitan hardwood.

Dimensions:

Maximum length: approx. 16.5 cm

Maximum width: approx. 13.5 cm

Maximum height / depth: approx. 3.5 cm

Condition:

Good antique condition with general surface wear, minor marks and age-related imperfections consistent with age and use.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description and show the condition, carving, colour and construction in detail.

An interesting Qing dynasty carved zitan scholar's object, notable for its naturalistic lotus design, openwork carving and decoration extending across both the front and reverse.