a superb carved bamboo 'Two Qiaos' brushpot (bitong) 17th century

the cylindrical brushpot with an everted lip and splayed foot, boldly carved in positive-relief with the two Qiao daughters, one seated on a stool and reading a book, the other seated on a kang, reading along and holding a fan, both dressed in elegantly flowing robes, the scenery bare except for a large rootwood table supporting a bouquet of tall lotus flowers, the openwork stalks rising from a large guanyao vase incised to reflect the characteristic craquelure, set next to a tripod ding vessel, the bamboo of dark red-brown color with deep patina

Walter E. Lutz, 'Bamboo Brushpots', Arts of Asia, September - October 1975, cover.

In good condition with expected age cracks around the foot, and some at the mouth. Small old nick to mouth. Ink stains to interior.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any stat.mes nt made by Replica Shoes 's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Bamboo brushpots with the motif of meiren carved in positive-relief are rare. This form of relief carving, executed with the generous use of negative space, recalls the style of the Kangxi period master bamboo artist Wu Zhifan of Jiading. The present example is exceptional for its bold relief and for the reticulated rendering of the lotus stalks. A brushpot with one seated meiren, from The Mary and George Bloch collects ion, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 4. A brushpot depicting two meiren reading together in a garden setting, in the collects ion of the Shanghai Museum, attributed to the first half of the 17th century, is illustrated in Chu-Tsing Li and James C.Y. Watt, The Chinese Scholar's Studio. Artistic Life in the Late Ming Period, New York, 1987, cat.no. 55. Related examples of brushpots portraying the two Qiao sisters are illustrated in Complete collects ion of Chinese Arts: Decorative Arts 11, Bamboo, Wood, Ivory, Horn, Beijing, 1987, pl. 11; and Simon Kwan, Ming and Qing Bamboo, Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 35. A brushpot with this theme was sold in these rooms, 21st September 2006, lot 192.

The 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, tells the story of the two Qiao daughters. Considered great beauties, they were one of the causes of the Battle of Red Cliffs. The depiction of the sisters reading a book together was a popular motif taken from woodblock prints, and appears in other media including jade, ivory and porcelain.