Wrist Rest
1921 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Chinese scholars used wrist rests while composing calligraphy. In ancient times the Chinese wrote with a brush, in vertical lines from right to left. The ink on the paper did not dry quickly enough as the writer moved from one line to the next, and the wrist rest prevented the written lines from being smeared.
Most wrist rests are made of bamboo. This is partly due to the naturally curving shape of a section of bamboo, and partly due to bamboo being a symbol of righteousness.
Most wrist rests are made of bamboo. This is partly due to the naturally curving shape of a section of bamboo, and partly due to bamboo being a symbol of righteousness.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bamboo, carved |
| Brief description | Wrist rest by Jin Xiya, carved bamboo, China, dated 1921 |
| Physical description | Bamboo wrist rest, curved cross-section, incised with a design of pine trees. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed 'xin yu shi yue Difan hua Xiya ke' Note From Register Translation Painted by Difan, cut by Xiya in the 10th month of the xin yu year |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | From the collection of Dr Ip Yee, Hong Kong |
| Production | From Register: Difan was a studio name of Yu Ming (1884-1935), from Wuxing, Jiangsu province, active in Shanghai. Xiya was the hao of Jin Shaofang (1890-1979), also from Wuxing but resident in Shanghai, the leading bamboo carver of the 20th century. Biographical reference: Wang Shixiang/Wan-go Weng. Bamboo Carving of China. China House Gallery (New York, 1983) and Jin Xiya and Wang Shiziang, Zhu ke yishu (Beijing, 1980). CC 24/6/1986 Jin Shaofang was the brother of the collector Jin Shaocheng and of the painter Jin Zhang, mother of Wang Shixiang. Personal information from Wang Shixaing. CC 7/11/1986 |
| Summary | Chinese scholars used wrist rests while composing calligraphy. In ancient times the Chinese wrote with a brush, in vertical lines from right to left. The ink on the paper did not dry quickly enough as the writer moved from one line to the next, and the wrist rest prevented the written lines from being smeared. Most wrist rests are made of bamboo. This is partly due to the naturally curving shape of a section of bamboo, and partly due to bamboo being a symbol of righteousness. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.38-1985 |
About this object record
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| Record created | February 12, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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