Square Bamboo Brush Pot

A Chinese calligrapher would work with many types of brushes of different thicknesses and sizes to achieve the perfect stroke. Each artist stored their brushes in a favorite handmade brush pot or bitong which rested on the painting table in their studio. This 19th century brush pot takes its form from an unusual species of bamboo that grows in an angular shape. The artisan who created this brush pot respected the growth marks of the bamboo as an integral part of the design.