Brush Holder 1667 - 1699

This is a bamboo brush holder, made by Gu Jue sometime between 1675 and 1700 during the Qing Dynasty. It's a vessel intended for the refined scholar, carved with a detailed scene of figures in a landscape, which speaks to the cultural values of the time. Consider how the piece operates within a society that revered scholarship and the arts. As such, the brush holder becomes more than just a functional item, it's an emblem of social status, education, and cultural identity. The intricate carvings, the pastoral setting, and the human figures, all point to a narrative steeped in Confucian ideals of harmony between nature and society. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between art, utility, and identity in 17th-century China, and how objects like this helped to shape and reflect the values of their society.