Mountain-form brush rest with mythical beasts
Not on view
The brush rest exemplifies the sophisticated craftsmanship and artistic creativity of pewter ware in seventeenth century China. Taking the form of an auspicious five-peak mountain, the brush rest principal faces are ornamented with mythical beasts in garden settings. A chimera (qilin) stands beside an ingot and a flaming pearl while a fantastic lion clutches in its mouth and claws a ribbon that is fastened to a coin. This imaginative design was highlighted with meticulously applied paper-thin sheets of brass within the outlines of the expertly engraved design.
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