Scholars' Brush Rest

Brush rests were an essential tool for a scholar’s practice of calligraphy and brush painting. This example, is fired in the shape of a dragon's visage, and glazed in a rich cerulean. The rests are shaped out of the dragon's shoulders, giving this unique item a dynamic posture. Qing Dynasty scholars surrounded themselves by beauty and inspiration; even the most humble of their tools was no exception. Each time the scholar used the rest he would contemplate the finely wrought image.