
Collection Online as of June 29, 2022
Wood carving
Alma Kroeger Fund 2015.66
not on view
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.