QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN IRON RED AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

During the early Qianlong reign, the renowned ceramicist Tang Ying (1682–1756) continued to supervise the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen until his death in 1756. A figure of exceptional versatility, Tang excelled as a ceramist, administrator, designer, and painter; under his directorship, the kilns produced some of the most technically sophisticated and artistically inventive porcelains of the period. This included the production of porcelain simulations of other materials, such as wood, lacquer, bronze, and marble, created to satisfy the Emperor's taste for novelty and ornate decoration. The faux-marble glaze at the top and sides of the present brush rest exemplifies the technological advancements and artistic innovation achieved under this system of keen imperial patronage.

The application of such simulation glazes on scholar's objects is significant, as it introduced an element of naturalistic whimsy and visual intrigue into the scholar studio and space. Compare to a Qianlong brush pot in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, collection no. xin00152283 (fig. 1); another related a faux-marble brush pot that is inscribed with a poem, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 58.