Chinese Ceramic Jar, Ca. 1900

Lovely Chinese pencil holder made of white ceramic probably designed to hold pencils, pens, brushes and writing articles. This piece dates from 1990 approximately and its great condition is highly remarkable, especially considering that it is more than a hundred years old. This spindle-shaped container, narrower in the middle, is nicely decorated outside with delicate hand-carved motives, following the technique that made artists such as Wang Bing Rong famous. The holder is made of white ceramic, and this materials soft and satin surface boasts delicate shiny grades which reveal the artisanal making of the piece.The pencil holder is decorated with a classical oriental scene, which depicts a landscape with animals, a rocky mountain and a big tree. Under the tree a charming fawns lifts its head to look at a smiling bird that is flying under the leaves, probably a crane. The tree is huge and its leaves have been carefully carved, one by one; its scaly bark has some lianas coiling up. At the other side of the scene we can see a wavy rock with two small bushes or trees on top. Just to its left there is a poem, delicately carved in the sky with small ideograms.The fine making of this decoration surely reveals the hand of a real master of ceramic and porcelain carving. The animals, the tree and the ideograms are depicted in full detail and different grades of depth, which provide a truly realistic feeling. The pencil holders base bears a stamp with some Chinese ideograms; the base itself shows a reddish brown tone which is probably due to the heat generated in the furnace during the firing of the piece.This striking ceramic pencil holder is fit to embellish the most elegant writing desk, where it will surely shine out.Measurements: Width: 105 mm. Height: 145 mm.