Footnotes

• Provenance 來源：
  An English collection, acquired from a Japanese aristocratic family, Kobe, 1980s
  Sotheby's London, 12 July 2006, Lot 11
  
  The Chinese regard the brush, ink, paper and ink stone as the 'four treasures of the scholar studio', which bear very important cultural connotations. Not only are they stationaries for daily use, they are also the fundamental tools for producing excellent calligraphy and paintings. The brush has also joined the ranks of ceramics, jades, bamboo and carved lacquer, becoming a work for art for appreciation and collecting, especially for the scholarly class. However, it is rare to find examples such as the current lot, preserved in such excellent condition.
  
  The use of brushes can be dated to the Warring States period, with archaeological examples dated from Tang and Song dynasty, where production of brushes from named craftsmen such as the Tang master Chen Shi and Song master Zhuge Shi were well-known. Production of high quality lacquer brushes reached their zenith during the Ming dynasty and were already a valuable commodity during that period.
  
  The current lot is well preserved and exhibits wonderfully controlled carving techniques of the Ming dynasty particular to the Jiajing period. For similar examples of Ming dynasty lacquer brushes, see The Four Treasures of the Study – Inksticks and Writing Brushes. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2005, pp.139-140, nos. 120 & 121 (fig.1). See also other comparable examples, illustrated in: Dechun Meishuguan Mingpin Ji. Tangwu Qiqi, Japan, p.47, no.73; Wenju: Yongqing Wenku Mingpin Xuan Tokyo, 1978, p.53; and 2000 Years of Chinese Lacquer, The Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993, p.138, no.71.
  
  明嘉靖 剔紅雕漆高士、山水紋飾漆筆
  
  筆管通體錦紋，筆蓋深雕一老者悠閒沈迷於賞月中，筆管雕刻精細，除層次分明外，還深雕柳樹，山巒岩石中數位童子嬉戲於樹梢間，呈現出一片安和樂利之動人畫面，讓整支漆筆充滿著文人氣息，工藝水平、意境均屬雕漆筆中佼佼者。
  
  該筆器形規整樸實、刀法藏巧、鋒痕含蓄，尚存明初剔紅器工藝遺風，為嘉靖朝雕漆器中珍貴文房用品，下列資料供參考比較，張淑芬、楊玲編，《北京故宮博物院文物珍品全集．文房四寶．筆墨》，香港，2005，頁139及140，編號120及121(fig.1)，《德川美術館名品集．唐物漆器》，日本，頁47，編號73；細川護貞編著，《文具：永青文庫名品選》，東京，1978，頁53，以及香港陶瓷協會與中文大學文物館編，《中國漆藝二千年》，1993，頁138，編號71。
  
  中國在偉大文化傳承中筆、墨、紙、硯被稱為"文房四寶"，是極為重要的文化傳播工具，為書法、繪畫等藝術發展提供了良好的基礎，其中"筆"也從一開始的實用漸轉變為後人收藏上的鑑賞品、藝術品，歷朝受文人所喜愛與收藏的材質有瓷、玉、竹、雕漆等，但由於"筆"屬消耗品，加上不易保存，故傳世品極不多見。中國在歷史上使用筆的年代久遠，無論在戰國、楚國出土文物中均可見到古人使用筆的蹤跡，唐、宋時期《宣州》(今安徽宣城)更成為中國製筆中心，出現好幾位製筆名師，如唐代陳氏、宋代諸葛氏製筆名家均揚名一時，買筆、訂筆文士絡繹不絕，到明朝時製筆業達到空前高峰，名家輩出，雕漆筆與漆器更在明、清時期揚名於中國與彼鄰之東瀛(今日本)，從此情況可得知雕漆在明、清兩朝期間已極為珍貴。

Lot heading

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Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art

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