A bronze ‘scholar and boy’ brush rest and paperweight.
China, late Ming dynasty to early Qing dynasty, 17th century.
Cast in the form of a reclining scholar on a flat irregular base, an ewer and a cup placed in front of him. Next to him, a boy is sitting and cleaning the scholar’s ear.
Condition:
Good condition with a nice brownish patina, minor wear and casting irregularities.
Provenance:
Formerly in a private collection in Paris, France.
Ref:
Compare with a brush rest in the form of a reclining boy from the Bromberg collection, illustrated in Later Chinese Bronzes for the Scholar’s Studio (Paul Bromberg, 2024), p. 95, no. 56.
Dimensions:
Height 3.8 cm, width 10.2 cm, depth 3.5 cm.
Inv. No: MW236
