Vintage Chinese Brush Pot, 3 Wise Monkeys, Carved Soapstone, pre-WW II

Description

This small carved soapstone jar is a holder for small calligraphy brushes. Carved from a single piece of soapstone, the "3 Wise Monkeys" from Buddhist teachings that surround the jar were well-rendered by the artisan. The quality of the carving suggests an early 20th century origin, most certainly pre-WWII. On the bottom is etched "I I" and "CHINA". So it was definitely produced for the foreign market, either export or tourist.
The soapstone is characteristically varied or mottled in color, which in this case ranges from copper to light charcoal to rust to a pale yellow with a greenish cast. The characters "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" are thought to have originated in the writings of Confucius, and in Buddhist teachings illustrate that avoiding evil thoughts and deeds will protect a person from evil. The parable has been adopted worldwide as a message of peace and tolerance.
The piece is in wonderful shape, considering its age! There is one small nick along the delicate rim, between "Hear No Evil" and "See No Evil". This tiny flaw is visible in my last photo for you to evaluate. It has been there as long as I've owned the piece, which is about 50 years, and may have happened during the carving. I wish I had a better lit area to take my photos. It's hard to edit out glare from the flash to show the consistent richness of the coloration! The jar measures 2 1/4"h and 2"w. It weighs 4 oz.