Rare 19th Century Chinese Porcelain Brush Pot for Vietnam

Rare 19th Century Chinese Porcelain Brush Pot for Vietnam, Enhanced with 22k Gold Kintsugi Restoration

Immerse yourself in the history and elegance of this rare Chinese porcelain brush pot, specially crafted for the Vietnamese market in the late 19th century. These objects, once indispensable to scholars and calligraphers, embodied intellectual refinement and were often adorned with symbolic motifs. This magnificent brush pot now bears the mark of a precious restoration using the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi, applied with genuine 22-karat gold.

Originally, this pot had undergone an earlier restoration using shellac, a common practice at the time. This prior repair has been carefully removed to allow for a more aesthetic and meaningful restoration: kintsugi. This ancient art form enhances the fractures of an object by highlighting them with precious metals, in this case, fine lines of 22k gold. Far from concealing the marks of time, kintsugi transforms them into a testament to resilience, bestowing upon the object a unique beauty and value.

The blue and white decoration of this brush pot, typical of the late 19th century, depicts scholars engrossed in a game of Go, alongside an opium smoker. The presence of Go players often symbolized strategy, patience, and intellectual mastery, qualities prized by the literati. As for the opium smoker, their symbolism can evoke contemplative escapism or simply reflect a social practice of the era. The scene is completed by stylized rocks and pine trees, symbols of longevity and constancy in Chinese iconography. The delicate gold lines of the kintsugi blend harmoniously with this historical scene, adding an additional artistic and narrative dimension to the object.

This brush pot bears a double mark: “Uân tàng my ky”, which can be roughly translated as “Precious curiosity preserved/collected by [implied name]” or “Object of beauty treasured and kept”. The presence of this double mark suggests a history of ownership and appreciation, now further enriched by its kintsugi restoration.

This beautiful object stands at 13 cm (approximately 5.1 inches) tall and has a diameter of 9.5 cm (approximately 3.7 inches).

This brush pot is a fascinating testament to the cultural exchange between China and Vietnam in the 19th century, elevated by the philosophy and aesthetics of 22k gold kintsugi. It is a unique collector’s piece, imbued with history and singular beauty, for enthusiasts of Asian art, antique objects, and the poetry of repair.