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Carved scene featuring mountains, pine trees (symbolic of long life), a temple and figures engaged in scholarly pursuits (unrolling a scroll, reading etc.)
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Carved scene featuring mountains, pine trees (symbolic of long life), a temple and figures engaged in scholarly pursuits (unrolling a scroll, reading etc.)
18th century
Carved soapstone
Museum number: L90
Not on display
Curatorial note
This small carving would have been intended as a desk-top item, to induce meditative thoughts. It is chipped at the right-hand end so a section (perhaps not large) is missing. It could conceivably have been a brush-rest. The quality of the carving is not high. The Soane Museum 'AB' inventory of 1837 described this work as A Small Model of a Temple, Tree and Figures - Rice Paste. It was later described, erroneously, as being made of Jade.
We are grateful to Dr Jessica Harrison-Hall of the British Museum for her help with this entry.
We are grateful to Dr Jessica Harrison-Hall of the British Museum for her help with this entry.
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk