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China

Brushpot (bitong)

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century
Rootwood
16.5 × 10.2 cm (6.5 × 4 in)

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● On view now — Gallery 134

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The artisan behind this rootwood brushpot ingeniously carved it into the form of twisted roots and knotted gnarls, allowing the object to reference its own materiality. During the late Ming Dynasty, objects made of rootwood began to gain popularity among literary elites in the Jiangnan region. This trend was linked to the emergence of elite woodcarvers in the area, along with an aesthetic that revered originality and the unconventional in art and crafts. Made to hold brushes used in painting and calligraphy, this object likely once adorned the table of a scholar.

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