CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIE SIÈCLE

The present brushpot is finely turned from a single section of zitan, the dense wood displaying an attractive grain and a smoothly proportioned cylindrical form of elegant simplicity. The exterior is richly decorated in the baibaoqian, or “hundred treasures” inlay technique, with blossoming prunus and red camellia branches rendered in a variety of precious materials including mother of pearl, carnelian, soapstone, amber, and malachite. The composition is carefully balanced, with the restrained elegance of the white prunus blossoms contrasting harmoniously with the vivid brilliance of the camellias, creating an effect that is both refined and sumptuous without excess.
Baibaoqian, also known as “Zhouzhi”, emerged during the Ming dynasty and involved the inlay of precious and semi precious materials into lacquer or hardwood surfaces. Celebrated for the richness of its materials and the sophistication of its craftsmanship, the technique was highly prized by the imperial court and flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Ming treatise Zunsheng Bajian praises such works, noting that “carved and jewel inlaid zitan objects demanded extraordinary ingenuity and labour, representing the height of craftsmanship of their age.” The present brushpot exemplifies this aesthetic tradition.