Scholar's Rock or Brushrest

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century

China

Resting upon a dark, varnished wooden base, this rugged and craggy rock with numerous holes and crevices was likely displayed in a scholar’s studio during the Qing Dynasty, possibly serving as a brush stand. Its saturated black color, juxtaposed with the light-brown texturing, gives the rock a moist and glossy appearance. This surface quality hints at the rock’s potential origin in Lingbi, Anhui province – the renowned source of the finest scholar’s rocks. Sometimes, the found rocks were carved to enhance their visual appeal. The natural yet fantastical aesthetics of rocks like this evoke mountain landscapes that seem almost animated when viewed from different angles. To Qing scholars, these rocks represented microcosms of the universe, accessible within the confines of their own studios.

Status: On View, Gallery 134
Department: Arts of Asia

Title: Scholar's Rock or Brushrest
Place: China (Object made in:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1701–1800
Medium: Stone (probably Lingbi stone)
Dimensions: 21 × 27.5 cm (8 1/4 × 10 7/8 in.)
Credit Line: Russell Tyson Fund and purchased with funds provided by of an anonymous donor
Reference Number: 2014.633
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/223142/manifest.json

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.