Korean Ceramic Scholar Brush Rest Joseon Dynasty

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A Korean ceramic mountain form brush rest made as an ornament to rest the pen brush for scholar's desk circa … Read more A Korean ceramic mountain form brush rest made as an ornament to rest the pen brush for scholar's desk circa late 19th century of Joseon Dynasty. The molded ceramic piece resembles a sacred mountain on which temple building and human figures could be discerned. Underglaze blue and overglaze iron colors were used to highlight the silhouette of the rock faces. The style rendition was rather rustic with folky charm, reflecting the humbleness of a scholar's study. The hollow piece stands on an apron base, and it comes with a later wood storage box (tomobako).
Small mountain-form ceramic pieces such as this were popular scholar items in Confucianism-centered Joseon Dynasty. They were made as water droppers, brush rest or simply as decorative display items (okimonos). The form reflects the reverence and respect for nature which often served as an escapism ideology from the rigid official life.
Provenance: from a Japanese collection. See less