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ID #SA1195689
FOR SALE
£675
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A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty
Sandbanks Antiques
for sale €790     $857
£675
Sandbanks Antiques

Sandbanks Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2025
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    Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
Id #SA1195689
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A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

19th century
Description

A fine 19th-century Chinese Famille Rose (fencai) porcelain brush pot (Bitong) of cylindrical form. This piece features a vibrant, hand-painted narrative scene depicting a high-ranking official or scholar in a studio setting, surrounded by attendants and symbolic scholarly objects.

circa 1880

Iconography & Decoration

The Scene: The central figure is an official seated at a desk, wearing a green robe with a gilded rank badge. He is attended by a servant offering tea and a military guard holding a ceremonial polearm.

The Scholar’s Table: Detailed depiction of the "Four Treasures of the Study," including a brush pot filled with scrolls and an inkstone.

Symbolism: A separate vignette features a blooming lotus in a tripod censer, symbolizing purity and integrity.

Palette: Executed in the classic late Qing palette with iron-red, translucent greens, yellow, and highlights of gold leaf.

Condition Report

Glaze & Enamel: The enamels remain bright. There is expected age-related wear to the gilding and minor surface pitting/iron spots consistent with 19th-century production.

Structure: No visible cracks or chips

Base: The unglazed base shows a characteristic "chattered" potting texture and orange oxidation from the kiln firing.

Dimensions

Height: 12.5 cm

Diameter: 10 cm

Provenance: The G S May Esquire Private Collection, London

Physical Dimensions
Height
12.5cm (4.92")
Declaration

Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Porcelain Brush Pot to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1195689
Description
A fine 19th-century Chinese Famille Rose (fencai) porcelain brush pot (Bitong) of cylindrical form.
“
This piece features a vibrant, hand-painted narrative scene depicting a high-ranking official or scholar in a studio setting, surrounded by attendants and symbolic scholarly objects.
Sandbanks Antiques
fig 1. A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
fig 1. A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

circa 1880

Iconography & Decoration

The Scene: The central figure is an official seated at a desk, wearing a green robe with a gilded rank badge. He is attended by a servant offering tea and a military guard holding a ceremonial polearm.

fig 2. A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
fig 2. A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

The Scholar’s Table: Detailed depiction of the "Four Treasures of the Study," including a brush pot filled with scrolls and an inkstone.

Symbolism: A separate vignette features a blooming lotus in a tripod censer, symbolizing purity and integrity.

fig 3. A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
fig 3. A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

Palette: Executed in the classic late Qing palette with iron-red, translucent greens, yellow, and highlights of gold leaf.

Condition Report

Glaze & Enamel: The enamels remain bright. There is expected age-related wear to the gilding and minor surface pitting/iron spots consistent with 19th-century production.

fig 4. A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
fig 4. A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

Structure: No visible cracks or chips

Base: The unglazed base shows a characteristic "chattered" potting texture and orange oxidation from the kiln firing.

Dimensions

Height: 12.5 cm

Diameter: 10 cm

Provenance: The G S May Esquire Private Collection, London

Height
12.5cm (4.92")
Date of Manufacture

Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Porcelain Brush Pot to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1195689
Sandbanks Antiques
Sandbanks Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2025

Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page

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A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
1 / 15
Archive I A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.

A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty

Archive II A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View II
Archive III A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View III
Archive IV A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View IV
Archive V A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View V
Archive VI A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View VI
Archive VII A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View VII
Archive VIII A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View VIII
Archive IX A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View IX
Archive X A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View X
Archive XI A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View XI
Archive XII A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View XII
Archive XIII A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View XIII
Archive XIV A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View XIV
Archive XV A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk. View XV
Enlarged Archival View
Sandbanks Antiques

Sandbanks Antiques
Telephone 07889 139677
Location
Sandbanks
Poole
Dorset
United Kingdom

By appointment only in Poole or London.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/sandbanks
Verified Since Jan 2025
Items For Sale 174
Items Sold 79
Sandbanks Antiques
Sandbanks Antiques
Verified Since Jan 2025
View Dealer Info
Location: Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom, , By appointment only in Poole or London.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/sandbanks
Verified
Jan 2025
For Sale
174
Sold
79
A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
A 19th Century Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Brush Pot (Bitong) Official & Scholar Scene Qing Dynasty
Ref: SA1195689
A cylindrical white porcelain brush pot hand-painted with green, red, and black enamel depictions of Chinese officials and scholars around a desk.
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FAQs

A bitong is a cylindrical vessel traditionally crafted for a scholars desk to hold calligraphy and painting brushes. Originating during the Ming dynasty and flourishing throughout the Qing dynasty, these items reflect the literary culture and artistic traditions of imperial China.

Famille rose porcelain utilises an opaque white glaze decorated with overglaze enamel pigments containing minute amounts of gold to create pink hues alongside green, iron-red, and yellow enamels. The ceramic body is composed of high-fired kaolin clay, resulting in a durable white porcelain surface.

Period pieces display characteristic foot rim wear, hand-painted brushwork with natural variation, and subtle glaze pinholes or oxidation under close inspection. Examining the unglazed rim base and enamel layer depth helps distinguish traditional pieces from contemporary reproductions.

A porcelain brush pot can be positioned on an executive office desk, bookshelf, or console table to serve as a functional stationary container or decorative accent. Pairing the vessel with dark timber furniture or contemporary minimalist shelving creates a balanced visual contrast.

Gently wipe the surface using a soft, dry microfibre cloth to clear dust without disturbing the overglaze enamels. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive sponges, or prolonged submersion in water to protect the painted detailing.
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