7. Huanghuali Cylindrical Bamboo-form Weiqi Counter Box and Cover (weiqizihe)
Qing dynasty, 18th century
Diameter: 10.5cm
Height: 8.5cm
The circular cross-section and the double lines encircling this huanghuali weiqi counter box are subtle references to a humble but important material in Chinese culture and its decorative arts – bamboo. This luxury hardwood object, carved to simulate a humbler material – bamboo – is an interesting visual conceit. This type of object may have been created to appeal to a scholar class for whom ‘simple living’ and a humble outward demeanour was a way of life, while the visual pun of imitating one material in another had novel appeal.
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