Bitong, Brush Pot

9/29/2008: "A Chinese bamboo bitong (brushpot) with an intricate overall carving, in high and low relief and openwork, with the motif called ‘The Orchid Pavilion.” Dating is Early Republic/PRC, 9 1/2” high x 7 1/2” wide, signed Xu Sibai (Hsu Su-pai) a native of Wuchin, Kiangsu. He settled in Shanghai and was active in the twentieth century. The superb carving shows Xu Sibai as a highly accomplished craftsman (reference: Ip Yee & Tam, Laurence, Chinese Bamboo Carving. Two volumes, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1978 and 1982. ISBN. 962 215 041 1). The motif termed “The Orchid Pavilion” (Lanting Xu) has scenes which are based upon popular novels and plays are often depicted on bamboo wares of late Ming and early Qing date, many taking inspiration from Ming dynasty paintings and woodblock prints. The motif shows numerous scholars in literary pursuits in wooded mountainscapes with streams, architectural structures and groves." - Bernie McManus, Appraiser, Woodbury House, Connecticut, 9/05/2008

Comparables: Christie’s, London, sale 7415, May 15, 2007, lot #76, A FINELY CARVED BAMBOO BRUSHPOT, 17TH/18TH CENTURY. Deeply carved and undercut with a scene from Lanting Xu (Orchid Pavilion Preface), depicting numerous scholars and attendants in a wooded mountain setting, with one group gathered around a table set with painting or writing materials within a pavilion, another group seated discussing books, a third group within a bamboo grove and a fourth smaller group playing a game, all dissected by a flowing river with ducks in the water and scholars and attendants on the river banks, with further smaller groupings of scholars and attendants in various spots. 5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) high. Christie’s, NY, 3/22/3007, sale 1814, lot 438, FINELY CARVED BAMBOO BRUSHPOT, BITONG, 17TH/18TH CENTURY. Deeply carved and undercut with a scene from the Lanting Xu (Orchid Pavilion Preface), depicting numerous scholars and attendants in a wooded mountain setting, with one group gathered around a table set with painting or writing materials, another group seated discussing books in a bamboo grove, a third group in a pavilion raised on pilings above the swirling waters of a river that bisects the scene, with ducks in the water and scholars and attendants on the river banks, with smaller groupings of scholars and attendants, and one attendant standing off to one side beside a table laden with scholars’ objects, with huanghuali mounts. 6 1/2” h. (16.5 cm. high).

Cameron, Nigel. The Chinese Scholar's Desk. Hong Kong: FormAsia Books, 2003.