Untitled

Jin Xiya

1935 · Bamboo carved in relief · Asian Art

This wrist rest is an excellent example of bamboo carving by Jin Xiya (1890–1979), the finest bamboo artist active in twentieth-century China. It showcases Jin’s virtuosic command of traditional bamboo carving as well as his creative experimentation. His works incorporate compositions from designs contributed by important modern artists, such as Jin Cheng (1878–1926) on this piece. Jin’s works not only represent the highest achievement of bamboo carving in early twentieth century China, but they also preserve a microcosm of the literati world of that time, when members of the scholarly elite sought to sustain inherited traditions in the face of a rapidly modernizing world. According to the archival list of Jin’s works (wrist rest #42), the bamboo carving was completed on November 23, 1935.

Artist

Jin Xiya

Date

1935

Medium

Bamboo carved in relief

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Jin Xiya's granddaughters: Joyce King, Sandra King-Frazier, Lynda King Clark, and Donna King-Luft, 2020