Chinese, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period
(1368–1644)
Brush Holder
1634–44
porcelain incised and painted designs in underglaze blue
7 x 4½ in
17.78 x 11.43 cm
Special Oriental Art Fund
72.35
In a courtyard, two servants approach an official who is holding a jade or wooden tablet. One servant is carrying a tray with a hat on it, indicating that the official has been promoted. The incised bands below the rim and above the baseline are also typical of brush holders made in the late Ming dynasty.