A BAMBOO ‘QIAO SISTERS’ BRUSH POT, BITONG, BY YUTIAN HUASHI (THE FLOWER MASTER OF THE JADE FIELD), 18TH CENTURY

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A BAMBOO ‘QIAO SISTERS’ BRUSH POT, BITONG, BY YUTIAN HUASHI (THE FLOWER MASTER OF THE JADE FIELD), 18TH CENTURY Expert’s note: A bamboo carver by the name of Yutian Huashi, literally ‘The Flower Master of the Jade Field’, does not appear to be recorded. Intriguingly, however, the same sobriquet and poetic inscription found on the present brushpot also appear on a painting attributed to the Qing court artist Feng Ji in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei (object no. 贈畫000850N000000002), which similarly depicts two women with rounded features and flowing robes. The present brushpot is remarkable for the beauty of its natural grain and the exceptional thickness of the bamboo, which allowed the carver to exploit the material to great effect. By working at varying depths and through differently colored layers of the bamboo, the artist brings the figural scene vividly to life, creating a remarkable three-dimensionality. China. Of cylindrical form, supported on three short feet, exquisitely carved in varying degrees of subtle high relief to depict two youthful female figures dressed in loose-fitting robes, gracefully gathered at the waist with delicate knots over their sashes, one playing the zither while the other stands behind her with one hand gently placed on her sister’s shoulder. The bamboo displays a superb grain and rich, warm color. Inscriptions: The reverse signed ‘Yutian Huashi zuo’, and inscribed with a poem: A crescent moon hangs above the lofty tower; The rhythmic beating of cloth resounds through the autumn night. Tonight the magpies form their bridge— Where will the Cowherd make his crossing? The final couplet alludes to Qixi, when the Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet across the Milky Way on a bridge formed by magpies. The Qixi Festival, a celebration of romantic love considered the traditional Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day, is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Dimensions: Height 14.9 cm, Diameter 10.6 cm The present brush pot depicts the legendary Qiao Sisters, celebrated for their beauty and their association with two prominent military figures of the late Han dynasty. Daughters of the official Qiao Xuan (109–183), the elder sister married the warlord Sun Ce, while the younger married his close friend and general, Zhou Yu. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 3 April 2019, lot 3717 Price: HKD 262,500 or approx. EUR 32,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, subject, and manner of carving. Note the similar size (15 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 December 2015, lot 3153 Price: HKD 187,500 or approx. EUR 25,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, subject, and manner of carving. Note the similar size (16 cm).

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