A CARNELIAN AGATE BRUSH WASHER, 18TH CENTURY

A CARNELIAN AGATE 'LINGZHI AND CHILONG' BRUSH WASHER, QING DYNASTY
China, 18th century. The translucent milky-white section of the vessel is rendered in form of a large fungus, surrounded by a smaller fungus amid springing lingzhi and a clambering chilong, all carved in fine openwork from the deep-orange layer in the stone.

Provenance: Property from an English collection. By repute acquired in the 1960s or before and thence by descent in the same family.
Condition: Superb condition with a nicely grown, unctuous patina and minor old wear. Small natural flaws to mineral.

Weight: 240.3 g
Dimensions: Length 12 cm

Note that this washer actually consists of two containers, the larger for water and the smaller probably for ink. It is also carved in a manner that enables the depositing of several brushes, both thicker and thinner ones.

Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related water pot at Christies Hong Kong in Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 27 November 2013, 3621, sold for HKD $150,000.

瑪瑙靈芝螭龍筆洗，清代
中國，十八世紀，半透明乳白色部分筆洗成大靈芝形式呈現，周圍是較小的靈芝與一條螭龍，由瑪瑙深橙色層雕刻而成。

來源：英國收藏遺產。據説購於1960年前后或更早。自此一直保存在同一家族。
品相：品相極好，包漿天然潤澤，輕微老磨損。玉石中有天然小裂縫。

重量：240.3 克
尺寸：長12 厘米

拍賣結果比較：一件相似水丞于2013年在香港佳士得《重要中國陶瓷和工藝品》拍號3621，成交價 HKD $150,000。