Chinese scholar's brush pots, also known as brush holders, are decorative containers used to hold writing brushes. They have a long history in Chinese art and culture, dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD).

The earliest brush pots were made of jade or other precious materials, and were typically used by members of the imperial court or wealthy scholars. During the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), brush pots became more widely used by scholars and artists, and were often made of porcelain, lacquer, or wood.

In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the art of brush pot making reached its peak, with many elaborate and ornate examples being produced. These brush pots were often decorated with intricate designs, including landscapes, figures, and calligraphy.

During the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 AD), brush pots continued to be produced, but the style became more restrained and refined. Qing dynasty brush more...

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Japanese terracotta dragon pattern brush pot. Height 24 cm

Terracotta Dragon Brush Pot - Japanese Pattern

Japanese terracotta dragon pattern brush pot. Height 24 cm

Four oriental lidded jars, a vase & brush pot, 25.5 cm high…

Oriental ceramics set with lidded jars, vase, and brush pot

Four oriental lidded jars, a vase & brush pot, 25.5 cm high (tallest)

Chinese celadon Doucai fo dog decorated brush pot, 15 cm high

Celadon Doucai Brush Pot with Fo Dog Decoration

Chinese celadon Doucai fo dog decorated brush pot, 15 cm high

A brush pot, depicting calligraphy and a women on body. Height…

Calligraphy and Women Brush Pot

A brush pot, depicting calligraphy and a women on body. Height 23 cm. Mark at base

Small Japanese cloisonne brushpot, decorated with panels of…

Japanese Cloisonne Brushpot with Bird and Flower Motif

Small Japanese cloisonne brushpot, decorated with panels of birds on flowering branches. Height 8 cm. Provenance: Dr. John A. and Louise Gray 'Mark and Period' Collection.

A small Chinese horn brushpot, the circular brush pot with an…

Chinese Dragon Brush Pot

A small Chinese horn brushpot, the circular brush pot with an inverted rim, with a small carved dragon peeking over the edge. Diameter 7 cm. (irregular)

A 19th century Korean fretted brass brush pot, tapering from a…

19th Century Korean Brass Brush Pot with Dancing Figures

A 19th century Korean fretted brass brush pot, tapering from a circular rim to a flared foot, pierced and decorated with two dancing female figures and pagodas, 13 cm height

Antique Chinese enamel plate, small baluster form lidded vase &…

Chinese Enamel Plate and Blue & White Vases

Antique Chinese enamel plate, small baluster form lidded vase & two blue & white reticulated brush pots. Vases approx 17 cm high and shorter. Plate approx 16 cm diameter (4)

A Chinese Republic style brushpot, decorated with peonies.…

Peony Decorated Chinese Brushpot

A Chinese Republic style brushpot, decorated with peonies. Height 13.5 cm

Meiji period blue & white brush pot, 7 cm high

Meiji Blue & White Brush Pot, 7cm

Meiji period blue & white brush pot, 7 cm high

Antique Chinese terracotta brush pot lamp shallow relief dragon…

Terracotta Dragon Brush Pot Lamp - Antique Chinese Decor

Antique Chinese terracotta brush pot lamp shallow relief dragon decoration 33 cm

A Chinese carved brushpot heavily decorated with scroll work…

Ornate Chinese Brushpot with Intricate Carvings and Marks

A Chinese carved brushpot heavily decorated with scroll work and character marks

An ornately carved brushpot 16 cm

Carved Brushpot: Intricate Beauty in 16cm

An ornately carved brushpot 16 cm

Three Chinese graduated Brushpots, 20th century decorated with…

Chinese Graduated Brushpots: Women, Phoenix & Dragon

Three Chinese graduated Brushpots, 20th century decorated with transfer printed decorations on cream crackled glaze, two depicting women in garden setting and one of phoenix and dragon in a fiery sky, each bearing period marks to the underside. Height 23…

Pair of Chinese soapstone brush pots, of cylindrical form, with…

Chinese Soapstone Brush Pots with Peony Decoration

Pair of Chinese soapstone brush pots, of cylindrical form, with pierced sides accented with carved peony decoration, on three feet, in tones of white and black, height 14 cm (2). Provenance: The Yeung Estate

Chinese crackle glaze brush pot, of cylindrical form, on a pale…

Chinese crackle glaze brush pot on green ground

Chinese crackle glaze brush pot, of cylindrical form, on a pale green ground, height 14 cm

A lacquer ware brush pot, of straight-sided form and decorated…

Lacquer brush pot with script and floral decoration

A lacquer ware brush pot, of straight-sided form and decorated throughout with two large reserves of script and a profusion of formal floral and arabesque forms and bats in red, green and gilt upon a distressed iron red ground, bearing apocryphal Qianlong…

A hexagonal brush pot painted with a pie Bald horse and red,…

Piebald Horse Hexagonal Brush Pot from Republic Period

A hexagonal brush pot painted with a pie Bald horse and red, Republic period, with a Tang Poem on reverse, height 12 cm

Chinese soapstone brush pot. Mountain scene cartouches. Height…

Mountain Cartouches Soapstone Brush Pot

Chinese soapstone brush pot. Mountain scene cartouches. Height 20 cm

A Chinese hard stone/jade brush pot. Decorated with a dragon…

Dragon Handle Chinese Jade Brush Pot

A Chinese hard stone/jade brush pot. Decorated with a dragon handle. Length 9 cm

Imari late 19th century brush pot

Late 19th Century Imari Brush Pot

Imari late 19th century brush pot

Fine Chinese brush pot in the style of Jui Quan circa 1998

1998 Chinese Brush Pot in Jui Quan Style

Fine Chinese brush pot in the style of Jui Quan circa 1998

Japanese brush pot with mother of pearl inlay, 27 cm high, 17…

Japanese Mother of Pearl Inlaid Brush Pot

Japanese brush pot with mother of pearl inlay, 27 cm high, 17 cm wide, 9.5 cm deep,

Two Chinese yellow ground brush pots, the cylindrical pots, one…

Pair of Chinese Yellow Ground Brush Pots with Decorations

Two Chinese yellow ground brush pots, the cylindrical pots, one enamel decorated with auspicious bats, peaches and ruyi fungus in a rock and turbulent wave setting, the other with applied and sgraffito decoration in green and tan colours depicting two…

A Chinese pink ground brush pot. 18 cm high

Chinese Pink Ground Brush Pot - 18cm

A Chinese pink ground brush pot. 18 cm high

A finely carved brushpot featuring cranes. Purchased Taylor's…

Cranes Carved Brushpot from Taylor's Chin Hua Galleries

A finely carved brushpot featuring cranes. Purchased Taylor's Chin Hua Galleries, Sydney 16 cm

A Chinese famille-rose brush pot, Qianlong four-character…

Chinese Famille-Rose Brush Pot with Qianlong Mark

A Chinese famille-rose brush pot, Qianlong four-character iron-red mark to the base, 20th century, 12 cm high. Provenance: Private collection NSW

Chinese white metal brush pot approx 13 cm high

Chinese White Metal Brush Pot - 13cm Height

Chinese white metal brush pot approx 13 cm high

Chinese carved amethyst brush pot 4.5 cm high approx

Miniature Chinese Amethyst Brush Pot

Chinese carved amethyst brush pot 4.5 cm high approx

Chinese export vase, c. 1900, probably from a mantel garniture,…

Chinese Kangxi Marked Export Vase with Cracked Ice Pattern

Chinese export vase, c. 1900, probably from a mantel garniture, cracked ice or prunus pattern. Kangxi mark to underside. This could also double as a brush pot. Minor firing defects only. Height 19 cm

A Chinese brush pot, the curved sides inlaid with mother of…

Chinese Mother of Pearl Inlaid Brush Pot

A Chinese brush pot, the curved sides inlaid with mother of pearl, with a separated bung, height 13, diameter 13 cm

A Chinese lacquer and inlaid brush pot, the square shape with…

Chinese Inlaid Lacquer Brush Pot with Qianlong Mark

A Chinese lacquer and inlaid brush pot, the square shape with chamfered corners, Qianlong mark to the base, inlaid with mother of pearl with gilt highlights, height 14 cm

A Chinese brushpot, decorated with a scholar overlooking a…

Chinese Scholar Bridge Scene Brushpot

A Chinese brushpot, decorated with a scholar overlooking a bridge and field scene, marks to base. Height 6.5 cm, . Diameter 8 cm

Chinese brush pot, late 19th century decorated in underglaze…

Blue Chinese Brush Pot with Woman and Child

Chinese brush pot, late 19th century decorated in underglaze blue with a woman and child. 11 cm high

A hardstone brush pot, the mottled dark stone pot of typical…

Mottled Hardstone Brush Pot with Figures and Pine Tree

A hardstone brush pot, the mottled dark stone pot of typical cylindrical form carved in high relief with three figures beneath a pine tree, height 15.5 cm

Large Chinese metal brush pot decorated in deep relief with…

Chinese Dog Scene Metal Brush Pot

Large Chinese metal brush pot decorated in deep relief with scene of dogs, 17.5 cm high

A Chinese 18th century style brush pot together with two…

Chinese Brush Pot & Paper Weights

A Chinese 18th century style brush pot together with two decorated paper weights, the brush pot decorated with figures in landscape, the brush with lotus decoration. Brush pot 7 cm high.

Maopi Ban blue & white brushpot painted with various shaped…

Maopi Ban Brushpot with Scenes and Poetry

Maopi Ban blue & white brushpot painted with various shaped scenes, with Chinese caligraphy poetry. Stamped with a two ring mark, with a six character signature. Height 16 cm

A finely potted Chinese brush pot, bearing calligraphy with a…

Jurentang Zhi Chinese Brush Pot with Bird Scene

A finely potted Chinese brush pot, bearing calligraphy with a scene of birds in a garden. Jurentang Zhi mark (made for the hall where one dwells in benevolence). Height 15 cm

A Chinese brush pot, decorated with a portrait of Chairman Mao.…

Crazed Mao Portrait on Chinese Brush Pot

A Chinese brush pot, decorated with a portrait of Chairman Mao. Extensive crazing

19th century Chinese champleve enamel brush pot

Champleve Enamel Brush Pot from 19th Century China

19th century Chinese champleve enamel brush pot

Pair of large antique Chinese brush pots carved with village…

Antique Chinese Carved Brush Pots with Village Scene

Pair of large antique Chinese brush pots carved with village scene, 36 cm high approx.

Chinese hand carved brush pot

Hand-Carved Chinese Brush Pot

Chinese hand carved brush pot

Two Chinese monochrome wares mottled green bowl, seal mark to…

Chinese Monochrome Green Bowl & Iron Red Brush Pot

Two Chinese monochrome wares mottled green bowl, seal mark to base. Diameter: 40 cm iron red brush pot, double circle marks to base, height 7.5 cm

Carved Chinese octagonal shaped brush pot, dark stained wide…

Carved Chinese octagonal shaped brush pot, dark stained wide border to the opening, and a lighter coloured body with carved figures in relief depicted in landscape and walking on a bridge. Height 16.5 cm

An early possibly Ming Chinese brush pot, height 14 cm,…

Ming Brush Pot with Shoulder Crack

An early possibly Ming Chinese brush pot, height 14 cm, diameter 14 cm crack to shoulder

Two Chinese soapstone Brushpots on stone stands, 20th century,…

Chinese Soapstone Brushpots on Stone Stands

Two Chinese soapstone Brushpots on stone stands, 20th century, the set of carved celadon and russet soapstone pots, finely carved with fishes and bats against a pierced rockwork background, raised on oval stone stands, height 12 cm, and 11.5 cm

19th century Chinese carved boxwood brush pot

Carved Boxwood Brush Pot from 19th Century China

19th century Chinese carved boxwood brush pot

A Chinese under glaze blue brush pot with continuous landscape.…

Chinese Blue Landscape Pottery Set

A Chinese under glaze blue brush pot with continuous landscape. Together with a jar, cover, candle holder and two plates, one with fish decoration the other with quail. Brush pot 13 cm high.

A decorative Japanese brush pot, with an andromorphic monkey…

Japanese Monkey Brush Pot with High Relief Monkeys

A decorative Japanese brush pot, with an andromorphic monkey wearing a robe standing in front of the cylindrical pot with two small monkeys modeled in high relief, 28 cm height

Chinese moulded brush pot. Sages in landscape. Height 14 cm

Moulded Chinese Brush Pot: Sages in Landscape

Chinese moulded brush pot. Sages in landscape. Height 14 cm

A Chinese tall brush pot, carved in relief with numerous…

Chinese Relief Carved Brush Pot with Figures and Trees

A Chinese tall brush pot, carved in relief with numerous figures in buildings and pine trees. Height 30.5 cm

Chinese carved stone brush pot, with raised decoration, 17 cm…

Carved Chinese Stone Brush Pot with Raised Decoration

Chinese carved stone brush pot, with raised decoration, 17 cm high

Chinese late Ming Dynasty squat brush pot, of cylindrical form,…

Late Ming Dynasty Fretwork Brush Pot

Chinese late Ming Dynasty squat brush pot, of cylindrical form, decorated with fret work pattern to the body, on a pale celadon foot, height 8 cm. Provenance: Dr. Merna Marie Torrington collection

Large square form brush pot, finely painted panels of exotic…

Exotic Bird Brush Pot

Large square form brush pot, finely painted panels of exotic bird on branches 20 cm high, 15 cm square

A Chinese celadon vase and a brush pot. The compressed bottle…

Chinese Celadon Vase and Brush Pot Pair

A Chinese celadon vase and a brush pot. The compressed bottle vase with applied chilong handles, with scrolling vegetal motifs in low relief under a pleasing soft green glaze; and a straight sided crackleware brush pot in pale grey with a satin finish;…

A pair of Chinese Hongmu mother-of-pearl inlaid brush pots,…

Chinese Hongmu Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Brush Pots (Pair)

A pair of Chinese Hongmu mother-of-pearl inlaid brush pots, 20th century 23 cm high, 9.8 cm diameter

A Chinese carved Shoushan brush pot seal, height 10 cm,…

Carved Shoushan Brush Pot Seal from China

A Chinese carved Shoushan brush pot seal, height 10 cm, diameter 8 cm

A Chinese horn brush pot, 20th century, naturalistically…

Buffalo Horn Brush Pot

A Chinese horn brush pot, 20th century, naturalistically fashioned from a section of buffalo horn with the natural outer surface retained, and polished at the top and bottom and sealed at the base, 9 cm high

Cantonese export ware brush pot vase similar decoration as…

Cantonese Brush Pot Vase with Matching Decoration - 25.5cm

Cantonese export ware brush pot vase similar decoration as above lot, 25.5 cm height

Chinese carved green stone brush pot carved decoration of…

Green Stone Brush Pot with Garden Figures

Chinese carved green stone brush pot carved decoration of figures in a garden, height 12.5 cm approx.

Yellow brush pot, Chinese 19th century, cylindrical form with…

Yellow Chinese Brush Pot with Cherry Blossoms

Yellow brush pot, Chinese 19th century, cylindrical form with raised decoration of cherry blossoms and vases on yellow ground, height 20.5 cm

A softwood Chinese brush pot with relief village scene carvings…

Relief Village Scene Chinese Brush Pot

A softwood Chinese brush pot with relief village scene carvings to body, height 16 cm

A rare Chinese Xianfeng mark and period brushpot, decorated…

Xianfeng Warrior and Courtesan Brushpot

A rare Chinese Xianfeng mark and period brushpot, decorated with warriors and courtesans. Large hairline crack. Height 14 cm

Chinese blue & white cylindrical brush pot. Ching dynasty.…

Ching Dynasty Blue & White Brush Pot

Chinese blue & white cylindrical brush pot. Ching dynasty. Private collection, Sydney. Height 14.5 cm

A Chinese Robin's egg glaze double Walled brush pot, late Qing…

Chinese Robin's Egg Glaze Brush Pot, Late Qing Dynasty

A Chinese Robin's egg glaze double Walled brush pot, late Qing Dynasty (late 19th /early 20th century), a barrel shaped pot having a central pot and a pierced lattice style external wall between hatched borders, with a pale turquoise and brick red Robin's…

Chinese facetted brush pot, decorated with roundels of precious…

Chinese Precious Object Brush Pot

Chinese facetted brush pot, decorated with roundels of precious objects, accented with metal strap work and raised on foru feet, height 17 cm

Chinese brush pot and lidded jar, perched birds amongst dogwood…

Chinese Brush Pot and Jar with Perched Birds and Dogwood

Chinese brush pot and lidded jar, perched birds amongst dogwood blossoms, Chinese character mark to base (2), vase, height 28.5 cm, bowl, height 19 cm

A Chinese lacquered brush pot with floral detailing, height 17…

A Chinese lacquered brush pot with floral detailing, height 17 cm

A Chinese celadon brush pot with relief dragon design, height…

Dragon Relief Celadon Brush Pot - 20cm Height

A Chinese celadon brush pot with relief dragon design, height 20 cm, Dia:20 cm

A Chinese cloisonne brush pot, showing a Qianling four…

Qing Dynasty Cloisonne Brush Pot with Qianling Mark

A Chinese cloisonne brush pot, showing a Qianling four character mark. 19th century, Qing Dynasty. Height 20 cm, diameter 6 cm

A brush pot shaped Chinese ink stone, height 10 cm, diameter 15…

Chinese Ink Stone Brush Pot

A brush pot shaped Chinese ink stone, height 10 cm, diameter 15 cm

Brush pot with warrior decoration and expressive marks.…

Warrior Brush Pot and Goldfish Bowl

Brush pot with warrior decoration and expressive marks. Together with Qing dynasty covered serving bowl decorated with gold fish. 14 cm high, bowl 23 cm wide.

A Chinese peach bloom brush pot, beehive shape with Kangxi…

Chinese Peach Bloom Brush Pot with Kangxi Mark, 12.5 cm

A Chinese peach bloom brush pot, beehive shape with Kangxi six-character mark to the base. Diameter 12.5 cm.

A group of two Chinese brush pots, and two brushes, Qing…

Chinese Qing Dynasty Brush Pots and Brushes

A group of two Chinese brush pots, and two brushes, Qing dynasty, one brush of later period The brush pots: 14.3 cm high, and 11.5cn high, the brushes: 24 cm long, and 21 cm long (4). Provenance: NSW Private Collection

Chinese blue & white brush pot, Kangxi period, with cobalt…

Kangxi blue & white landscape brush pot

Chinese blue & white brush pot, Kangxi period, with cobalt continuous landscape, depicting figures & buildings in the mountains, height 18 cm, diameter 21.5 cm

A Chinese Republican period brushpot decorated with peaches and…

Chinese Brushpot with Peaches and Bats

A Chinese Republican period brushpot decorated with peaches and Bats height 15.8 cm, diameter 12.3 cm

Large Chinese blue & white brush pot

Chinese Blue & White Brush Pot

Large Chinese blue & white brush pot

Fine old Chinese blue & white brush pot

Chinese Blue & White Brush Pot

Fine old Chinese blue & white brush pot

Chinese Rootwood brush pot, in Phoebe Zhennan, of cylindrical…

Chinese Rootwood Brush Pot, Natural Form, Private Collection

Chinese Rootwood brush pot, in Phoebe Zhennan, of cylindrical form, following the natural form, height 20 cm private collection Exeter, Southern Highlands

Chinese blue & white brush pot, slight tapering shape with…

Chinese Blue & White Brush Pot with Mask Heads

Chinese blue & white brush pot, slight tapering shape with applied mask heads, approx 17 cm high, 20 cm diameter

Two cylindrical brush pots, 20th century, one decorated in…

Cylindrical Brush Pots with Gilding and Inscription

Two cylindrical brush pots, 20th century, one decorated in gilding on an iron-red ground the other with a long inscription in black, Qianlong and Jiaqing seal marks, 12 cm and 10.5 cm high

A Chinese Blue-glazed brush pot, height 13 cm, diameter 10.5 cm

Chinese Blue-glazed Brush Pot

A Chinese Blue-glazed brush pot, height 13 cm, diameter 10.5 cm

A fine rootwood brush pot, bitong, with a thin red lacquer…

Qing Dynasty Rootwood Brush Pot

A fine rootwood brush pot, bitong, with a thin red lacquer layer on the interior, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, the shape is enhanced by the natural irregularities and the nodes highlighted in a dark brown, the base of the bitong is closed by fitted…

Two Chinese rootwood brushpots, 11 cm high, 7 cm high (2).…

Pair of Chinese Rootwood Brushpots

Two Chinese rootwood brushpots, 11 cm high, 7 cm high (2). Provenance: Private collection NSW, Purchased 20 years ago in Wyndham Street, Hong Kong

A Chinese turquoise-ground brush pot, of cylindrical shape,…

Chinese Turquoise Brush Pot with Prunus Blossoms

A Chinese turquoise-ground brush pot, of cylindrical shape, moulded in high relief with branches of prunus blossoms, 12.5 cm high

A Chinese red Cypress-Wood brushpot; Qing Dynasty (1644-1912);…

Qing Dynasty Red Cypress Brushpot

A Chinese red Cypress-Wood brushpot; Qing Dynasty (1644-1912); fashioned from a natural, unfinished branch of 'Hong do shan' (red cypress), with fine old patina. Height 13 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A famille-rose 'landscape' brush pot, Qianlong six-character…

Qianlong Marked Famille-Rose Landscape Brush Pot

A famille-rose 'landscape' brush pot, Qianlong six-character mark 9.9 cm high

A Chinese brush pot with incised decoration, Qing Dynasty, 19th…

Qing Dynasty Chinese Brush Pot from McClelland Collection

A Chinese brush pot with incised decoration, Qing Dynasty, 19th century, 12 cm high. Provenance: The Joshua McClelland Collection, Melbourne

A Huang-Huali brush pot, 20th century, carved in one piece and…

Huang-Huali Tree Trunk Brush Pot

A Huang-Huali brush pot, 20th century, carved in one piece and modelled as a tree trunk, height 16.5 cm

Chinese white brass brush pot ornately decorated in relief,…

Chinese White Brass Brush Pot with Relief Decoration, 17cm

Chinese white brass brush pot ornately decorated in relief, reign mark to base, 17 cm high

Good Chinese 19th century brush pot modelled as a Gnarled tree…

19th Century Chinese Gnarled Tree Stump Brush Pot

Good Chinese 19th century brush pot modelled as a Gnarled tree stump 20 cm height

A Chinese carved horn brush pot with scene of sages in a…

Carved Chinese Horn Brush Pot with Mountain Scene

A Chinese carved horn brush pot with scene of sages in a mountain landscape playing board games, Qing Dynasty 19th century, 12 cm high, 9.5 cm wide

An antique lacquerware brush pot Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period…

Qing Dynasty Lacquerware Brush Pot

An antique lacquerware brush pot Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period 1736-1795 mark well decorated in colours and lightly engraved to two reserves with a cockerel and its mate with red chrysanthemum, character script to the reverse, and further embellished with…

A Chinese boxwood brush pot with heavily carved decoration, the…

Chinese Boxwood Brush Pot with Eighteen Luohan Carvings

A Chinese boxwood brush pot with heavily carved decoration, the encircling scene depicts the 'Eighteen Luohan', the disciples of Buddha. Height 13.5 cm

A Cantonese banquet teapot. Together with a brush pot, helmet…

Cantonese Banquet Teapot Set

A Cantonese banquet teapot. Together with a brush pot, helmet shaped jug, teapot. Teapot 26 cm high.