PF 50 A rare Chinese three colour-glazed biscuit brush washer with French gilt mounts

清康熙 三彩筆洗 鑲法國鎏金座

Kangxi period 1662-1722), 17th century; the mounts of the French Regence period (1715-1723)

The brush washer is in the form of a double fish, each side depicting a side view of a yellow carp with eyes in relief and incised scales. The heel of the shoe is covered by the green tail of the carp.
A green border encircles the bottom, which curls up at the toe, following the curved shape of the shoe. The underside is covered with a light brown glaze showing incised lines in black, imitating the texture of the sole. The rim of the sole is mounted with a scalloped-edged gilt bronze mount.
The inner edge of the shoe is encircled by a border in a dark aubergine glaze and has a delineated gilt mount ending at the heel as a fish-tail cast with fine stippling and with a tassel finial.
Length: 12.5 cm

A brush washer is one of the essential tools for the scholar’s desk, together with the brush, brushpot, inkstone and brush rest. It is used to remove excess ink from a brush.

The Chinese word for fish, 'Yu' 魚, is phonetically identical to the word meaning 'abundance' or 'affluence' thus symbolising wealth. Fish are an ancient symbol of rank and power. The carp symbolised the scholar. In later periods, fish symbolised marital bliss since they swim in pairs, thus representing the joining of the male and female.

清康熙 三彩筆洗 鑲法國鎏金座

時代：清康熙，17世紀；配法國攝政時期鎏金座，1715至1723年。
特徵：筆洗作雙魚鞋履造型，器身兩側各繪一條黃色鯉魚，魚眼浮雕，魚鱗刻畫細緻。鞋履前方上翹，綠色魚尾覆蓋鞋後跟。器底施淺褐色釉，並刻黑色條紋以模仿鞋底紋理。器底鑲嵌法國鎏金座，器緣亦鑲嵌一圈鎏金。
尺寸：長12.5公分。