Bottle ID: 409

< Previous page

PEBBLE, INCISED HUANG

Date: 1744-1802

Height: 55 mm

Limestone, carved and smoothly polished in the form of a slightly irregular pebble, very well hollowed, of a dark brown tone with a lighter inclusion to the reverse; the front with a ovoid circular quartz inclusion following the form of the pebble surrounding an ovoid panel of limestone on which is incised in lishu script a ten character poem referring to wishes for prosperity, together with a seal and signature Huang Yi.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 919
Moss, Sydney M. The Literati Mode, 1986, p. 270, no. 134.

Provenance:

Asian Art Studio

“Pebble” form bottles in any material are very rare and in limestone, even more unusual. Every ounce of care has been taken in the manufacture of this piece, from the superb hollowing to the carefully crafted concave base. The bottle has a wonderfully smooth patination when held in the hand but is a powerful sculpture in miniature when standing. Huang Yi was an official, a painter of landscapes and flowers and a pre-eminent seal carver and calligrapher. His style was derived from his master Ding Qing, and from his own studies of monumental Han inscriptions. It is telling that Huang Yi, a member of the literati and a painter and leading seal carver was drawn to incise this bottle with his own distinctive calligraphy and signature. Whether he himself was the owner of this mesmerizing bottle or not is unclear, but is a possibility as a plaque exists, incised and carved by him (see similar example) devoted to his mother and father, as such it is possible that this bottle was also created for his personal use and pleasure.

< Back to full list