A wooden Chenxiangmu ‘Scene’ brush container, Qing dynasty

Beautifully carved wood of a reddish hue, in the form of a container or ‘pot’ for paintbrushes. It has a flat base and a cylindrical body with an irregular profile, profusely decorated with relief details of varying depth. It shows a continuous scene set in a lush landscape, filled with trees, bamboo canes, flowers and steep rocks, on which a group of figures are seated around a table, enjoying a cup of tea. The carving work is impeccable, full of minute details of high quality. 

Chenxiangmu wood is one of the most highly prized woods in Chinese culture for its medicinal and aromatic qualities, and is even used as incense. There are few large-scale figures carved from this wood, as it is extremely rare. Qing Dynasty (1644 and 1912) 

Size: 15 x 12 x 13 cm

Weight: 470 g