Description:

Pots of this shape were used for storing brushes with the tips up to avoid damaging them. This one has a design of interlaced dragons and the Chinese characters for ‘sun’ and ‘moon’. Together these characters also stand for the concepts of yin and yang, the ancient Chinese theory of the two opposite and complementary principles in nature.

Glass, carved overlay
Height: 12.3 cm, diameter: 7.2 c

Chinese Description:

龙纹笔筒 中国，清代，约1800-1900 笔筒可供倒放画笔。这只文具刻着龙饰及「日」、「月」二字，示意阴阳并济 — 传统宇宙生成两大元素互相交融而创造出万物。 玻璃，套料雕刻

Creator: Unknown

Date: 1800-1900, Qing dynasty

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4668