Footnotes

十七世紀 竹雕指日高升人物圖筆筒
「朱三松製」款

The incised mark in seal script, reading 'made by Zhu Sansong' (朱三松製, Zhu Sansong zhi), refers to Zhu Sansong (circa 17th century), a distinguished bamboo carver from Jiading, Jiangsu Province. He hailed from a renowned family of bamboo carvers, whose artistry and techniques had already reached remarkable heights by the late Ming dynasty. Along with his grandfather Zhu He (朱鶴) and father Zhu Ying (朱纓), Zhu Sansong was celebrated as one of the 'Three Zhus of Jiading' (嘉定三朱), a trio of master artisans who helped to establish Jiading as a key centre for bamboo carving in China. His skill in bamboo carving was highly regarded, and his works remain sought after for their intricate design and meticulous craftsmanship.

Notably, during the sixtieth birthday celebrations of the Kangxi Emperor, a bamboo carving of Laozi riding a blue ox, signed by Zhu Sansong, was presented to the Kangxi Emperor as part of a gift from a group of officials. This carving is documented in Wanshou shengdian chuji (萬壽盛典初集), vol.56, underscoring Zhu Sansong's prominence in Imperial circles and his standing as a master of his craft.

The present lot, with its depiction of a scholarly figure, may be interpreted as a gentleman pointing at either the moon or the sun. The phrase 'pointing at the sun' (zhi ri 指日) is a pun that evokes the wish for a rising career, symbolising 'day by day' or, more specifically, the blessing of zhiri gaosheng (指日高升), meaning 'May you rise in rank day by day.' This association with career advancement and success is a common auspicious motif, linking the figure's gesture with wishes for prosperity and progress. The artwork thus serves not only as a representation of scholarly ideals but also as an expression of hope for personal advancement and achievement.

See a related bamboo 'figures' brushpot carved with the signature of Zhu Sansong in cursive script and the Qianlong Emperor's poem, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, Palace Museum, Beijing (acc.no.故00135383). See also a related carved bamboo figure of a fisherman signed Sansong in seal script, 17th century, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing (acc.no.新00140407). See also another related brushpot with figures enjoying a full moon, signed Feng Xilu, Qing dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study, Shanghai, 2009, p.30, no.21. See also a bamboo brush pot in the Palace Museum, Taipei, inscribed with a Zhu Sansong mark (acc.no.Gudiao000013N000000000).

Compare with a carved bamboo incense holder, 17th century and signed Sansong in seal script, which was sold at Christie's New York, 19 September 2007, lot 16. Compare also with a bamboo carved 'lady and musicians' bamboo brushpot attributed to Zhu Sansong, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2024, lot 1322.