Chinese Soapstone Brushwasher decorated with flowering Lotus, early 20th Century

Current Bid: £28.00
Bid Increment: £2.00
Next Min Bid: £30.00

Buyer’s Premium: £6.72
Total Amount: £34.72

Number of Bids: 5
Location: United Kingdom
Highest Bidder: User 1180

Auction Start: 12/03/23 12:00:00 UTC
Auction Ending: 26/03/23 20:26:00 UTC
Auction Finished : 26/03/23 20:26:07 UTC
LOT NUMBER 14
Bid next increment
Leave or increase maximum bid
LOT NUMBER 14

Chinese Soapstone Brushwasher decorated with flowering Lotus, early 20th Century

A Chinese Soapstone Brushwasher, carved in high relief with two vase like vessels and a shallow bowl all surrounded by flowering lotus and set on a ground of stylised rockwork, the back flat carved and the base hollowed out at the interior. Various similar pieces can be found with one or more vases surrounded by flowers or sometimes animals and presumably intended as brushwashers. Soapstone was first used by the Chinese over three thousand years ago but began its popularity in the Ming dynasty (1368 -1644) with the height of production during the ensuing Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911) when a stone mined in the Shoushan village in northern Fujian was most commonly used. Shoushan soapstone is noted for its smooth texture, bright colours and fine grain and a wide variety of objects were carved from it. Production continued into the 20th Century which is what we have here but the quality of the work, with sparing use of the drill, suggests a dating in the early 1900s.
Size: 19 x 27 x 7 cm
Weight: 2.4 kg
Date: 1920s
Condition: Good condition overall with little or no chipping to the raised carved decoration but a few stress cracks or fissures (see images 7,8), probably original to the manufacture.
Estimate: £40 – 60

Global shipping is available. We use standard Royal Mail Tracked and Signed For service.

If you would like a quote for the shipping cost please email us at shipping@intercollector.com.

Please see our Terms and Conditions Section 13 for more details. 

Dispatched usually within 5 days from receipt of payment.