SIGNED FANG JIE, DATED DAOGUANG BINGSHEN CYCLICAL YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1836 AND OF THE PERIOD

Fang Jie, active in the Jiaqing/Daoguang period, was a competent poet and painter. His bamboo works are mostly his own original compositions, and he was well-known for his portraitures. The current wrist rest is executed with incised fine lines to depict the lady Sanniangzi (1550-1612), the wife of a Mongolian khan in the 17th century who was instrumental in signing a peace and trade treaty with the Ming court, and who was admired by the Han Chinese as well as her own people. Fang Jie's style is meticulous and delicate, reminiscent of the baimiao tradition of Chinese portrait paintings.