Lot 9
CHINESE STONE, MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND SILVER-WIRE INLAID ZITAN BRUSH POT
WU WEI YE MARK, MING TO QING DYNASTY
Auction: 15 May 2026 from 10:00 BST
Description
明至清 崇禎 及 吳偉業款 紫檀錯銀絲嵌鏍鈿百寶松下高士圖筆筒
款識：崇禎／梅村吳偉業
印文：吳偉業印
of slightly waisted form, the body inlaid in various hardstones and mother-of-pearl with a continuous scene of scholars surrounding and facing a figure seated under a pine tree, a boy offering a double-gourd bottle behind him, one side inlaid with silver-wire with nine characters, including Chongzhen reign mark and ‘Wu Wei Yei’, with a seal
Dimensions
14.2cm high
Footnote
This brush pot unusually attributed to Wu Weiye (1609–1672), and inlaid with Chongzhen reign mark (1628-1644). Wu Weiye, courtesy name Jungong, art name Meicun, was a native of Taicang, Jiangsu, and a renowned poet of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He earned the second-highest rank (Bangyan) in the 1631 imperial examinations and served as a Hanlin compiler during the Ming dynasty. Under the Qing, he was compelled to serve as an official, eventually rising to the position of Imperial Academy Chancellor. His literary achievements were outstanding, especially his seven-character verse known as the "Meicun style." Alongside Qian Qianyi and Gong Dingzi, he was celebrated as one of the "Three Masters of Jiangdong." Wu Weiye also excelled at painting and calligraphy. His works Danqing Baofa Scroll and South Lake Spring Rain Scroll are in the collection of the Shanghai Museum.
此筆筒罕見鑲嵌吳偉業（1609–1672）之名，並有崇禎年號（1628–1644）。 吳偉業，字駿公，號梅村，江蘇太倉人，明末清初著名詩人。他於明崇禎四年高中榜眼，曾任翰林院編修；清順治時被迫出仕，官至國子監祭酒。其詩文成就極高，尤以“梅村體”七言歌行影響深遠，與錢謙益、龔鼎孳並稱“江左三大家”。吳偉業亦擅書畫，其《丹青寶筏圖》軸、《南湖春雨圖》軸藏於上海博物館。