Expert’s note: The figures depicted in this brushpot are both scholarly and immortal in their appearance. The standing scholar holding a scroll represents Wenchang Wang, the God of Literature. The elderly man riding the mule depicts Zhang Guolao, whose epithet ‘Lao’ added at the end of his name means ‘old’, and who is often shown riding a donkey or mule. The two attendants holding a lotus flower (‘he’) and box (‘he’) are the Hehe Erxian, typically depicted as boys. The true star in this scene, however, is Kui Xing standing in characteristic pose within a cloud emanating from Zhang Guolao’s head, perhaps mentioned by the elderly scholar in conversation to his colleague, thereby revealing the significance and meaning that this brush pot once had for its original owner.

China, Qing dynasty or later. Well potted with gently waisted sides, the exterior painted in bright enamels with gilt highlights to depict two scholars engaged in conversation, one standing and holding a large scroll, his attendant carrying a sack filled with scrolls, the other riding a mule and holding a ruyi scepter, a cloud emanating from his head enclosing Kui Xing, all within a verdant mountainous landscape with gnarled trees, craggy rockwork, and wispy clouds.

Provenance: Dutch trade.
Condition: Good condition with expected old wear and firing irregularities, including pitting, glaze recesses, firing cracks, and dark spots. Few shallow chips and fritting to the rim.

Weight: 2,081 g
Dimensions: Diameter 18.9 cm

Identified by the writing brush held in his right hand and his iconic 'back-kick' posture, Kui Xing (‘Chief Star’) is a Daoist deity worshipped to obtain academic success. It therefore was auspicious for a scholar to have an item decorated with this figure on his desk, to inspire him in his writing and achievement of examination success.

The Chinese character ‘Kui’ is composed of the ideographs for ‘demon’ and ‘ladle’ (or ‘dipper’, as Kui Xing is also associated with the North Star). Kui Xing is often portrayed with a demonic appearance, a hideous face, a horn-like protuberance on his head, and a sinewy body. According to legend, he was once a mortal scholar with outstanding literary skills but was repeatedly failed in the civil service examinations due to his repulsive appearance. Out of frustration and humiliation, Kui Xing threw himself into a river, where he was saved by a mythical beast called ao. He then ascended to the Big Dipper and became the stellar patron of the literati and the God of Literature.

Dreaming of Kui Xing the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (zhangyuan), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the ao. Representations of Kui Xing are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the Imperial examinations.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 30 March 2005, lot 399
Price: USD 10,200 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A famille verte brushpot, bitong, 18^th/19^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely decoration and manner of painting with similar sparse surroundings and blue enamel as well as the related size (17.7 cm). Note that considering recent findings, this brush pot more likely dates to the 19^th than the 18^th century.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 17 March 2009, lot 108
Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 26,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large ‘famille-verte’ brushpot, Kangxi period
Expert remark: Compare the related decoration and manner of painting with similar gilt highlights. Note that this bitong dates from an earlier period than the present lot.