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Source Description
The gnarled and twisted form of a prunus stump is carved to accentuate its naturally textured surface. The body is finely polished to create a lustrous patina. Simple wood carvings like this exemplify the Chinese scholars’ taste for natural forms and rustic materials, which in turn reflect the desire to retreat into nature. They were collected and displayed as decorative works of art in the traditional scholars’ studios.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
172580
label
Prunus Wood
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
172580
contentType
object
title
Prunus Wood
description
The gnarled and twisted form of a prunus stump is carved to accentuate its naturally textured surface. The body is finely polished to create a lustrous patina. Simple wood carvings like this exemplify the Chinese scholars’ taste for natural forms and rustic materials, which in turn reflect the desire to retreat into nature. They were collected and displayed as decorative works of art in the traditional scholars’ studios.
date
1700–1899
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80084744
genreSpecific
Wood
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 48.3 cm (19 in.)
cul
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
accession
2015.66
Source extras
tec
wood carving
tombstone
Prunus Wood, 1700–1899. China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Wood carving; overall: 48.3 cm (19 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Alma Kroeger Fund, 2015.66
collection
China - Qing Dynasty
citations
citation
Williams, Marjorie. <em>Chinese Painting--an Escape from the "Dusty" World</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1981.
page_number
fig. 51
creditline
Alma Kroeger Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:50:29.906000
sourceId
172580
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Qing Dynasty
med
wood carving
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
994bf59fa5b016b7