A FINELY CARVED 'HAIR-CRYSTAL' BRUSH WASHER, 1750-1850 China. Of signified peach form, with thick walls and an uneven, wavy rim allowing for use as a brush rest. The clear rock crystal with an attractive sparse pattern of tourmaline needles.

Provenance: Dutch trade.
Condition: Excellent condition with traces of use, old wear and possibly microscopic nicks. The stone with natural flaws and fissures, some of which may have developed into microscopic hairline cracks over time.

Weight: 826.9 g
Dimensions: Length 14.5 cm

Expert's note: With the random distribution of differently colored needles of varying thickness and length, scholarly objects made from hair crystal provide an infinite variety of exciting patterns. The needle-like crystalline inclusions can be black (tourmaline), green (actinolite) and coppery red or silvery gold (rutile). The inclusions in this remarkable example are tourmaline. The artist has set the natural scene by giving the vessel a distinct form remnant of a peach, with a wavy rim ideally suited for several brushes to rest. The 'hairs' are concentrated in the lower portion of the washer, around the well, rising up from there and thinning as they go. The effect is suggestive of reeds or long grass and the dramatic image is further enhanced by the small flaws in the stone which reflect light in brilliant, iridescent bursts.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2012, lot 178
Price: USD 4,375 or approx. EUR 5,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A hair-crystal brush washer, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related material and similar size (12 cm). Note the elaborate carving.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 November 2011, lot 45
Price: GBP 12,500 or approx. EUR 19,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A hair-crystal brush washer, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related material and form. Note the elaborate carving and smaller size (7 cm).


1750-1850年發晶桃形筆洗
中國 。筆洗呈桃形，厚壁，不規則波浪形邊緣，可用做筆架。晶瑩剔透的水晶内含有黑色針狀電氣石。

來源：荷蘭古玩交易市場
品相：品相極好，有使用痕跡, 舊磨損和輕微刻痕。晶石具有天然瑕疵和裂紋，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成髮際線裂縫。

重量：826.9 克
尺寸：長14.5 厘米

專家注釋：排列組合不同的毛髮針狀礦物質分佈在水晶的內部，整體看起來就像是水晶裏麵包含住了髮絲一樣。而包含各種不同礦物質的發晶就會形成不同的顏色發晶，進而形成不同的圖案。這件水晶内含有黑色電氣石。筆洗呈桃狀，彎曲的邊緣非常適合擱置毛筆。“毛髮“集中在筆洗下部，讓人聯想到蘆葦或青草，晶石上的小瑕疵進一步增強了戲劇性效果，可以折射出明亮的彩虹色。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比, 20 March 2012, lot 178
價格：USD 4,375 （相當於今日EUR 5,100）
描述：十九世紀清代發晶筆洗
專家評論：比較相近的材質、精心雕琢，但尺寸較小 (12 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦翰思, 2011年11月7日, lot 45
價格：GBP 12,500（相當於今日EUR 19,000）
描述：十八世紀發晶筆洗
專家評論：比較相近的材質和形制。請注意精心雕琢、尺寸較小 (7 厘米)。