A 'SEVEN SAGES OF THE BAMBOO GROVE' CARVED BAMBOO BRUSHPOT, QING China, dated Jiachen year (most likely 1784), signed Jingfeng Shanren. Elliptic form, carved with two scenes, each depicting the Seven Scholars of the Bamboo Grove engage in various pursuits, such as playing the zither or drinking tea. Note the breathtakingly reticulated, dense bamboo groves around the upper body! Provenance: From an English private estate. Condition: Good condition with age cracks, few minor losses. Superb patina. Weight: 923.6 g Dimensions: Height 18.6 cm This brush pot is carved with the favored Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove motif, a group of scholars of the Wei dynasty (220-265) who had renounced their official status and career in protest against corruption. They advocated freedom of individual beliefs which were inspired by Daoist philosophy. The seven sages, pictured gathered amidst a bamboo grove drinking, composing poetry and enjoying each other's company, came to represent scholars disenchanted with official policies and are symbols of an incorruptible scholar. The popularity of the subject throughout Chinese history is reflected in its reproduction on a variety of media, such as porcelain, jade and paintings. Auction result comparison: Compare with a related brush pot, slightly smaller and dated to the Kangxi era, sold by Sotheby's Hong Kong in Chinese Art on 1-2 June 2015, lot 628, for HKD $250,000. 竹雕《竹林七賢》筆筒，清代 中國，甲辰年(很可能為1784)，詩詞落款鏡峰山人。竹雕竹林七賢圖，文人飲茶彈琴。筆筒上雕刻密集竹林，結合竹子本身紋理。 來源：英國私人遺產 品相：品相良好，年代裂紋，輕微缺損。包漿極好。 重量：923.6 克 尺寸：高18.6 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件相似筆筒，小一些，康熙年代，售于香港蘇富比《中國藝術》，2015年6月1-2日，拍號628，成交價HKD $250,000。