Crystal brush-rest in the
shape of five hugging boys
Qing dynasty
Length: 13 cm Height: 5 cm

Bronze piyong inkslab with
ten hoof-shaped legs and a cover
Tang dynasty (618-907)
Diameter: 18.5 cm Overall height: 12.5 cm

Huangyang eccentric rockwork
Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Height: 29 cm

Since the seventh century, the Chinese society was dominated by a class of literati whose tastes influenced the development of Chinese art. These intellectuals favoured fine decorative objects that required a high degree of cultural expertise to appreciate, which embodied the refinement of the scholarly arts and accoutrements.

Objects for the scholar's studio are traditionally represented by the "Four Treasures of the Studio" - brush, ink, inkslab, and paper. They also include desk utensils and accessories such as brush-holders, brush-rests, brush-licks, wrist-rests, water-jars, water-droppers, brush-washers, ink and seal-paste boxes, paper-weights, as well as decorative items such as censers, trays, tables, eccentric boulders and rockworks, as well as precious wooden boxes. These objects reflect the scholar's aesthetic realm and elegant taste. Yet the relationship between the two is not simply one of utility as the objects also imply a spiritual self-identification. It is this feature that endows Chinese scholar's objects with profound meaning.

The exhibition features over 150 Chinese scholar objects selected from the Mengdiexuan Collection, dating from the Tang dynasty (618-907) to the early twentieth century. Viewers can have a glimpse of antiquity, unique design, fine materials, and the symbolism of these scholar arts. They represent not merely objects for use but also sources of inspiration of the Chinese literati in past centuries, which have become highly regarded representations of Chinese cultural heritage. A fully-illustrated catalogue will be published to coincide with the exhibition.

To coincide with the exhibition, a lecture entitled "A few questions related to ancient Chinese scholar's objects" (in Putonghua) by Mr Sun Ji, Research Fellow of the National Museum of China, will be held at the Fung Ping Shan Building of the Museum on Friday 30 June 2006 at 6:00 pm. All are welcome.

back to top