Brushpot (bitong)
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century
Medium
Rootwood
Dimensions
13.8 × 16.5 × 10.2 cm (5 7/16 × 6 1/2 × 4 in.)
Classification
writing equipment
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
204348
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The artisan behind this rootwood brushpot ingeniously carved it into the form of twisted roots and knotted gnarls, allowing the object to reference its own materiality. During the late Ming Dynasty, objects made of rootwood began to gain popularity among literary elites in the Jiangnan region. This trend was linked to the emergence of elite woodcarvers in the area, along with an aesthetic that revered originality and the unconventional in art and crafts. Made to hold brushes used in painting and...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...