{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O176064"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O176064/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX8511/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BX8511/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BX8511","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009BX8510","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O176064/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O176064","accessionNumber":"FE.195-1974","objectType":"Brush rest","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This porcelain pen or brush rest has been moulded into the shape of five rising mountain peaks. It is decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze and is inscribed inside a diamond cartouche on both the back and the front with a Persian inscription, which can be translated 'Pen rest'. The base is recessed and pierced at either end with a small hole. \r\n\r\nAlthough this rest is of a traditional Chinese form as used by practitioners of calligraphy in China these rests were also exported to the Middle East as evidenced by the presence of similar pieces in collections there such as the Ardebil Shrine. Scholars in the Middle East used pens, not brushes for writing hence the inscription 'pen rest'. This rest was probably exported to the Middle East for the use of a scholar there or possibly made for a Chinese Muslim in China.","physicalDescription":"White porcelain moulded with five rising peaks, decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze and inscribed inside a diamond cartouche on both the back and the front with a Persian inscription, 'Pen rest'. The base is recessed and pierced at either end with a small hole.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"},{"text":"glaze","id":"AAT15091"},{"text":"cobalt","id":"AAT13266"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulded","id":"x30076"},{"text":"painted","id":"x39976"},{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"firing","id":"AAT53887"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"White porcelain moulded, decorated with cobalt blue under the glaze","categories":[{"text":"Porcelain","id":"THES48907"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[{"text":"Ming","id":"AAT18438"},{"text":"Zhengde","id":"AAT18459"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2009BX8511","2009BX8510"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA065","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"BRUSH REST","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Jingdezhen","id":"x32230"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1506-1521","earliest":"1506-01-01","latest":"1521-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Seligman bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"22.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Six character mark in underglaze cobalt blue 'Da Ming Zhengde nian zhi' on the base","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Made in the reign of the Zhengde emperor of the great Ming.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Similar pieces exist in the Percival David Foundation (A642), Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (exhibited in Philadelphia, 'Ming Blue and White', 1949, no.99); the British Museum (Francks Collection 1470), inscribed 'pen rest'; Sotheby's, 29 March 1977, lot 256.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Porcelain brush rest with underglaze cobalt blue decoration, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty, Zhengde mark and period (1506-1521)","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"J.G. Ayers; The Seligman Collection etc. vol 2 1964, D248"},{"reference":{"text":"<i>The Seligman Collection of Oriental Art : Chinese, central Asian and Luristan bronzes, Chinese jades and sculptures, Chinese and Korean ceramics</i>, London : Arts Council of Great Britain, 1966","id":"AUTH355039"},"details":"327","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Garner, Harry M. <i>Catalogue of an exhibition of Chinese blue and white porcelain, 14th to 19th centuries</i>, London : Oriental Ceramic Society, 1953","id":"AUTH356577"},"details":"134, Pl 11","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"mountain","id":"AAT8795"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Brush rest, Ming  dynasty (1366-1644) blue and white.\r\nZhengde mark and period (1506-1521)\r\nInscription reads 'Pen rest' in Persian.\r\nSeligman Bequest","date":{"text":"June 1991","earliest":"1991-06-01","latest":"1991-06-30"}}],"partNumbers":["FE.195-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"195","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Exhibition number","id":"THES288584"},"number":"669 (Venice Exhibition, 1954)"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-01","availableToBook":false}}