CC0 · no rights reserved
Prunus Wood
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit linePrunus 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
