Brush pot in the shape of a tree trunk

This unusual brush pot bears an inscription identifying the owner as Qian Shisheng (1575–1652), a Ming-dynasty minister of rites who either acquired or commissioned the object in 1641. Designed to emulate an aged and gnarled tree trunk, the surface reflects seventeenth-century scholars’ appreciation for old and rustic items. The pot complements the aesthetic of objects exhibiting an antiquarian style.