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Brush pot in the shape of the Three Friends of Winter
Brush pot in the shape of the Three Friends of Winter

Brush pot in the shape of the Three Friends of Winter

Place of OriginChina
Date1900-1940
MaterialsNephrite
DimensionsH. 5 3/8 in x W. 4 in x D. 3 in, H. 13.7 cm x W. 10.2 cm x D. 7.6 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB60J311
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsJade And Stones
On View
Not on view
More Information

民國初年白玉"三友"筆筒

HIDDEN MEANING: May the Three Friends of Winter bring you longevity!

This brush pot for a scholar's table takes the shape of pine, bamboo, and plum, a combination which has been known since the Song dynasty (960-1279) as the Three Friends of Winter. In the cold season, when most plants are dormant, the bamboo and pine remain green, and the plum tree is the first to bloom in the New Year, even when there is still snow. Resistance to the elements is admired by the Chinese, and this motif is foremost among the botanical motifs of China. These three trees are also symbols of longevity.