A CHINESE 'HORSE AND OFFICIAL' BAMBOO BRUSHPOT, BITONG

A CHINESE 'HORSE AND OFFICIAL' BAMBOO BRUSHPOT, BITONG
18TH CENTURY

The cylindrical body with a slightly flared rim carved in shallow relief with an official or scholar inspecting a stallion as it rolls on its back, the base with three short feet, with an indistinct seal mark below the rim, possibly reading yue, 13.5 cm.

Provenance: from the collection of Dr John William Hawksley Grice OBE (1891–1976) and thence by descent. Formerly on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Grice loan number 66.

This brushpot likely depicts Bole or Sun Yang, the legendary horse connoisseur of the Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC). Celebrated for his ability to recognise exceptional horses, Bole became a symbol of discernment and refined expertise. For related examples, see Wang Shixiang, Bamboo Carving of China, pp.52–53, fig.35, and Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats: The Carvings of Ming and Qing Dynasties, pp.45–46.

十八世紀 竹雕伯樂相馬筆筒
來源：John William Hawksley Grice 醫生(1891–1976)收藏，之後由家人繼承。本拍品曾於倫敦維多利亞及阿爾伯特博物館展出，編號66。