A rare silver cylindrical brushpot, bitong
Lot 29*
A rare silver cylindrical brushpot, bitong
Sold for £25,000 (US$ 38,609) inc. premium

Lot Details
A rare silver cylindrical brushpot, bitong
A rare silver cylindrical brushpot, bitong
Heavily cast and resting on four lobed feet, the exterior boldly cast in relief with a continuous scene of a celebratory procession of boys variously riding hobby horses, lighting firecrackers, blowing a trumpet and beating drums and cymbals, in front of figures watching from pagodas, one waving a musical-stone pendant and another carrying a large vase of flowers, one large rock bearing the inscription Shi shi cang shu (Stone Hall Library).
14cm (5½ in) diam.

Footnotes

  • 銀鏨刻人物故事圖筆筒 「石室藏書」 隸書刻款

    A spinach-green jade brushpot of similar design with the same inscription 'Shi shi cang shu' and dated to the Qianlong period is in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei (museum ref no.002134N000000000).

    Compare also a silver brushpot on loan to the Metropolitan Museum, New York, ref. no.L.1997.23.25, with a Qianlong mark and of the period, probably depicting the Gathering in the Western Garden, a legendary assembly of literary luminaries held in the city of Kaifeng in 1087.
Auction information

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    Auction Administration - Chinese Works of Art
    Bonhams
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  2. Olivia Hamilton
    Specialist - Chinese Works of Art
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