Chinese wrist rest (?)

What can you tell me? Am I correct this is a Chinese wrist rest? Also curious about approximate age and/or anything of interest about the piece. Thanks!

 

what's a wrist rest ?
this looks like a bamboo carving of a bearded male with a lumpy complexion.
I'm not seeing anything else here....

 

It does look like an arm-rest or wrist-rest, yes.

KK, a wrist-rest or arm-rest was something a Chinese scholar, artist or writer used. It would lie on his desk and he would rest his arm or wrist across it.

This was to keep it still while he wrote Chinese characters. It also kept the long sleeves of his robes off the paper (and away from the charcoal ink of the era). It also prevented the oil on his skin from getting onto the paper and staining it as he was painting or writing.

I have seen VERY nice ones made of ivory. My paternal grandfather was a Chinese calligrapher and journalist. He was born in Canton in 1907.

 

oh...that wrist rest...!!

 

It looks to have the right shape and size, so I don't see why not. I don't know of anything else that comes out of China that looks like that.

 

This is from the Pusan, Korea, branch of the famous Kyoto tea shop, Tsujirihei Honten. The branch was apparently closed sometime after World War II.

Here's a photo of the shop as it was, and how the site currently looks, as well as an old listing matching the address on your price label.

http://nekonote.jp/korea/old/fukei/naka/kfk/tjr.html (in Japanese)

http://www.tsujirihei.co.jp

http://www.tsujiriichihonten.com/history.html (in Japanese)

This might be a tea scoop:

https://darumamuseum.blogspot.com/2007/04/tea-scoop-bamboo.html

(Carved like that, it'd be uncomfortable as a wrist or arm rest.)

 

what an answer!

i have to say that i am SO impressed with the people and information and knowledge that this forum! and the willingness to share it all! -

and they ones with the sense of humor are cool too! lumpy complextion! lol

 

Wonder if Qing dynasty, etc... scholars/artists developed Carpal tunnel syndrome from these rests. Sorry, couldn't help it.
http://www.humantech.com/do-wrist-rests-prevent-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/

http://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/index/6012-oriental-objects-wrist-rests/

--- Susan

 

(I'm sure there were aches and pains over the years from a variety of antiquities meant to assist this and that, you're right, Susan.)

As for this identification information, Kactus, you aren't the only one who is impressed. Not many of us would know where to even start with this kind of piece. Khl889 has been a huge help over the years. A valued member on this board.

Thank you also to everyone who took a look!

Khl889, a hearty thank you for the incredibly detailed and helpful answer. Even a link with a photo of the place where it was sold. Amazing.

 

THAT, madam, is an understatement! Khl889 - on behalf of half the world, thanks for sharing your incredible knowledge!

 

The bearded male is Daruma (Bodhidharma), the founder of Zen (Chan) Buddhism. He is always portrayed with large bulging eyes because he is reputed to have cut off his eyelids so he couldn't fall asleep during meditation.

 

kactus 100 - If you hang around long enough the amazement you feel will be multiplied hundreds of thousands of times.

I followed most of the members here from the old antiques forum on ebay. I use to frequent several different boards, back before they started monkeying around with them, since around 2001 & the international education I have received has been nothing short of outstanding. The best part is the fact that all it has cost me is some time.

I just hope in some small way I have been able to help out a few folks along the way as my way of paying it forward.

Peggy