Modernist Brush Rest
$100.00
An unusual, stylized brush-rest found in Kyoto. A special rest for holding brushes is an idea dating to T’ang-era China, which later spread to Japan and elsewhere. Ink-painting and calligraphy were and are important in Buddhist culture, and to Chan/Zen practice, especially.
In China, the most desirable rests were small scholar’s rocks, especially the jagged, perforated lingbi stones. Since these are hard to find, artificial versions were carved from wood, jade, and ivory, or formed from clay, glass, etc. This Japanese example, carved from dark hardwood, has a wonderful, abstracted style, bordering on the modern.
The last image is of a Chinese scholar’s rock brush rest, for comparison.