The washer intricately carved as a large lotus leaf and blossoms, skilfully hollowed to form a receptacle. The entwined stems of the leaves gradually extend upward toward the everted rim, with a single lotus pod and a crab resting on the side of the vessel.
A zitan ‘lotus’ brush washer (Qing dynasty, 19th century)
Description
Dimensions: 9.5cm diameter
Provenance:
A private Hong Kong collection
The washer intricately carved as a large lotus leaf and blossoms, skilfully hollowed to form a receptacle. The entwined stems of the leaves gradually extend upward toward the everted rim, with a single lotus pod and a crab resting on the side of the vessel. The ‘zitan’ wood is smoothly polished, displaying a rich black colour with subtle hints of red.
