Chinese Carved Small Peach-Form Brush Pot
OwnerOwned by
James Cromar Watt
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1862 - 1940)
DateQing Dynasty, 18th century
Object NamePot
Mediumamethystine quartz
ClassificationsApplied Art
AcquisitionJames Cromar Watt Bequest, 1941.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS011213
About MeThis Chinese carved amethystine quartz brush pot is in the form of a small peach. The peach in Chinese culture symbolises long life as it is associated with immortality and the gods.
Hardstone carving is a form of decorative art that has been a part of Chinese culture for over 3,000 years. This is largely due to many of the precious and semi-precious stones used, such as jade, turquoise, malachite, quartz and agate, occurring naturally in certain territories of China.
These different types of stones feature a wide variety of properties that Chinese artists were able to exploit, incorporating the natural coloration and textural qualities of the stones into their designs. This brush pot is made from quartz, also known as rock crystal, which is found in a number of colours from clear through to amethyst and burnt orange. Here the naturally occurring shading of the quartz has been used for decorative effect.
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, 1736 - 1795
Edo Period, possibly late 18th century
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, 1736 - 1795
James Cromar Watt
Meiji Period, 1868 - 1912
Qing Dynasty, late 19th century
19th Century
