LOT 1087  A Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Carved Brush  

明萬曆 剔紅雕牡丹紋毛筆 The cylindrical shaft well-carved in high relief with leafy branches bearing peonies, r...

明萬曆 剔紅雕牡丹紋毛筆 The cylindrical shaft well-carved in high relief with leafy branches bearing peonies, rocks, inscribed with six character Imperial 'Wan Li' reign mark, the cover similarly carved with the addition of bird, all reserved on intricate diaper pattern. Ming Dynasty Wanli period. Length: 11 3/8 in (28.8 cm) Provenance: Property from an important private collection in Portland, Oregon This exquisite brush is carved using the cinnabar lacquer technnique, featuring an elaborate design of intertwining peonies set against a finely detailed brocade-patterned background. At the upper end of the brush shaft, a rectangular plain lacquer cartouche bears an incised six-character inscription: "Made during the Wanli reign of the Great Ming" in elegant regular script with gold pigment. The application of carved cinnabar lacquer on scholar’s objects, such as brush holders, was a distinguished artistic tradition during the Wanli period. However, due to material and size constraints, executing such intricate carvings required exceptional craftsmanship. This particular brush exemplifies the pinnacle of Ming lacquer artistry, with its thick, lustrous lacquer layers, meticulously rendered details, and harmonious composition. What makes this piece truly remarkable is the rarity of its imperial reign mark, an exceedingly uncommon feature in scholar’s objects of this type. This unique inscription elevates its historical significance, making it not only a masterpiece of Ming dynasty lacquerware but also an invaluable artifact for the study of late Ming scholar’s studio objects and lacquer craftsmanship. 此毛筆通體施以髹漆剔紅工藝，雕刻纏枝牡丹紋，襯以錦紋為地，紋理清晰。筆桿上端設有長方形素漆開光，內陰刻「大明萬曆年製」六字楷書款，字體泥金填飾。在筆筒上施髹漆並剔紅雕刻，由於材料及尺寸所限，製作過程對工匠的雕刻技藝要求極高。此剔紅毛筆漆層厚重，包漿瑩潤，雕工細膩，構圖飽滿且層次分明，尤以折枝花卉為特色，雖為雕刻之作，卻富有繪畫意境，堪稱萬曆時期剔紅文具中的珍品。值得一提的是，此筆所帶款識極為少見，更顯其珍貴與獨特，為研究明代剔紅工藝及文房用品提供了難得的實物資料。