清代漁人捕獲歸途遇學士竹雕筆筒）Here is an interesting antique Chinese carved bamboo brush holder for holding calligraphy brushes. The bamboo has an interesting shape from its natural growth, almost like that of a “cloud” or “Ruyi” shape. The hand-carved scenery depicts one fisherman meeting an elderly scholar and his pet dog, outside of the scholar’s home with woven bamboo fence, with the fisherman showing catch of the day to the scholar under a large what looks like might be a maple tree. The expressions on the faces of the two figures, and even on the face of the dog, are wonderfully and vividly rendered in carved detail with smiles and enthusiasm while conversing with each other in a leisurely atmosphere. Some aged cracks and a dent at the front bottom of the holder.
Bamboo objects have long been sought after and favored by many collectors for Chinese art. Bamboo is considered among the earliest materials used in China for recording events or human activities. A brush holder or a bamboo brush holder is considered an important element of a scholar’s desktop arrangement of objects, showing a scholar’s aesthetic taste in art as well as a representation of a literati’s spiritual pursuit rendered by the artistic objects.

Dimensions: 6 ¾” H x 3 ¾” L x 2 7/8” D

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