Prunus Wood
Unknown Artist
1700–1899
Medium
wood carving
Dimensions
h. 48.3 cm
Classification
Wood
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Alma Kroeger Fund
Accession Number
2015.66
About this artwork
The gnarled and twisted form of a prunus stump is carved to accentuate its naturally textured surface. The body is finely polished to create a lustrous patina. Simple wood carvings like this exemplify the Chinese scholars’ taste for natural forms and rustic materials, which in turn reflect the desire to retreat into nature. They were collected and displayed as decorative works of art in the traditional scholars’ studios.