Carved bamboo brush washer with plum blossoms, early Qing dynasty (ca. 17th century).

Carved bamboo brush washer with plum blossoms, early Qing dynasty (ca. 17th century).

• Image Number: K1G000016N000000000PAB
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Carvings
• Function: Furnishings, stationery and games
• Material: Plants/Bamboo/
• Description:
  The underground stem of bamboo, namely bamboo root, is a good material for three-dimensional carving because of its thickness and short internode. This piece of water is good at making use of the characteristics of bamboo underground stems. It is carved with a plums which are curly and vigorous. The flowers are either in bud or in full bloom. It can be seen from the bottom that the bamboo root is slightly carved into a plum tree section. The plum blossom, which represents the winter, is elegant, elegant, proud and upright. It has also become the object of poets’ chanting and the symbol of high officials. This piece of water is full of clean carving and strong lines. In addition to showing the beauty of simplicity and elegance of bamboo carving, it also has the elegant meaning of “thin shadows slanting across the clear water, subtle fragrance floating in the moonlight at dusk”.