Square pen holder for inscribing poems on Wenzhu figures

[Wenzhu Figure Poetry Square Penholder]

Wenzhu Figure Poetry Square Penholder, late Qing Dynasty, with a total height of 14 centimeters, a length of 7.2 centimeters, and a width of 7.2 centimeters
There are four ways to use a pen holder, which is wrapped in asparagus, inlaid with a mahogany base, and has four legs. On the opposite sides of the cylinder, a character is depicted using yin carving techniques: a scholar, standing with his back facing away, wearing a high scarf, holding a crutch obliquely, and stooping around his waist. Although his face is only lateral, it can be seen that his beard extends to his chest, and his lips and jaw are bent, showing a rather ancient appearance of a dragon bell. The clothes are flowing gently, as if there were a breeze blowing, which is extremely vivid. The clothes have complex patterns and curved iron lines, with Chen Laolian’s brushwork. On the other side is a fisherman standing upright, dressed in coarse clothes with bare feet, holding a bamboo hat in his hand, leaning the fishing rod against his shoulder, holding his head upright and smiling. The contrast between the two is meaningful. The remaining two sides of the barrel are inscribed in yin. The first is regular script, which reads, “In the past, Cangjie started his own business with calligraphy and calligraphy, and his calligraphy and calligraphy were flourishing. Those who made the most sacred and constitutional works should not precede the pen. Detailed analysis of the original reasons and its success should be made. It is hearty and radiant, and cannot be carried forward. In the April of the Gengzi era, the Cangxi King Zhumin Journal was published.” And the small seal script seal of “Wang Xun” was printed. On the opposite side, there is a running script, which reads, “The carving is exquisite and looks like an immortal object in Liaodong; the painting is magnificent, laughing at the Confucian scholars in Shujun.”
The style of this article is clear and meaningful, with considerable calligraphy and painting, and the inlaying and yin carving techniques of asparagus are particularly exquisite, making it a rare study masterpiece.

文竹人物题诗方笔筒局部