國立故宮博物院 National Palace Museum
:::
Home / Collection / Selections
Mail to a Friend Printer-friendly Version

Selections
Painting | Calligraphy | Rare Books | Documents | Ceramics | Bronzes | Jades | Curios
Carved Olive-stone Boat
Enlargement
 
 
Carved Olive-stone Boat
Ch'en Tsu-chang, Ch'ing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Height: 1.6 cm, length: 3.4 cm
 
Ch'en Tsu-chang, originally from Kwangtung, had already entered the Imperial Bureau of Manufacture in the Yung-cheng reign (1723-1735). In 1737, he followed the natural shape of an olive pit to carve a small boat. On the boat are eight figures, each of which is animated and expressive in an individual manner. What is most fascinating is that the entire text of Su Shih's "Latter Ode on the Red Cliff", including more than 300 characters and upon which this work is based, is engraved with exquisite detail on the bottom of the boat, testifying to the heavenly craftsmanship of the artist.

Text: Yu P'ei-chin
 
 
 
Back to Menu