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Lot Essay
The two figures depicted are idealised depictation of the two legendary beauties of the Han dynasty. Known as Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, they were the daughters of Qiao Xuan, and were immortalised in the classical novel, Sanguo Yanyi, 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms' as their respective planned marriages were one of the factors that influenced Cao Cao to begin his first southern campaign which culminated in the spectacular battle of the Red Cliffs.
This subject-matter was a popular theme carved on brushpots; for three examples, cf., the first inscribed with the name of Wu Zhifan, illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Zhuke Jianshang, Taiwan, 1996, no. 14; another in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated by C. Clunas, Chinese Carving, London, 1996, p. 48, fig. 46; and the brushpot from the Mr and Mrs Gerard Hawthorn Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2008, lot 2332.
This subject-matter was a popular theme carved on brushpots; for three examples, cf., the first inscribed with the name of Wu Zhifan, illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Zhuke Jianshang, Taiwan, 1996, no. 14; another in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated by C. Clunas, Chinese Carving, London, 1996, p. 48, fig. 46; and the brushpot from the Mr and Mrs Gerard Hawthorn Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3 December 2008, lot 2332.