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Striking it rich with bamboo carving
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Fan Ziqi believes it was the oily hand of fate that pushed him to collect bamboo-carved artworks.
It was 1995, and only a few years after his retirement. While visiting a friend in Zhejiang Province, a dainty, delicate bamboo carved brush holder caught his eyes. Fan fell in love with it but hesitated to buy it because it was costly. Two years later, he spotted the same brush holder at an antique market in Shanghai. He borrowed 100 yuan (US$15.3) from his friend and used his entire salary to finally get his hands on it.
“From Lanxi to Shanghai, it felt like a reminder that I should buy it. I believe in fate, and I knew if I missed it again there wouldn’t be a third time,” Fan said. It proved to be an excellent choice. Some years ago, a merchant offered him 200,000 yuan for the brush holder. But Fan declined to sell.
“I don’t collect them for money. The true value lies in its resonating art which can still touch people’s heart after hundreds of years. Even though everything has changed, that connection seems to have remained.”
With a pick tool kit that he borrowed from a dentist friend, Fan spent three months cleaning dirt and mud that has collected on the brush holder, and bringing its beauty back to light. He then spent another 10 years touching and playing with it every day, using his hands to “heal” the cracks.
“Oil produced in skin can smooth the cracks, but only when you play with it for a long time. If you are persistent with it, it will form a natural shiny veneer over bamboo, much like red wood.”
He believes that good collections are made of two parts — its original value and how it is preserved. Collector plays an important role. In wrong hands, even the best item would lose its shine.
“The most touched bit will be shinier than the rest, creating highlights and shadows, making the object more vivid.”
Since his first buy, he has added some 120 pieces in his collection, enough to hold a little exhibition. He’d like to think that some of his collections are even better than those at Shanghai History Museum.
“Bamboo carving is a less important branch of study, not too many dedicated in this realm,” said He. “Many items were lost or ruined in the passing years.”
He also found that most Westerners did not understand the difference between wood and bamboo carving and often mixed them both.
“Wood carving is for merchandising, carved by craftsmen for trade. Bamboo carving was done by scholars and were objects of ideology and spirit.”
Bamboo has long been the symbol of junzi, a Chinese term for a noble and humble gentleman — the highest pursuit of scholars. By carving bamboo pieces, they were subjecting their emotional pursuit in to artwork. It gave this form of art a deeper meaning.
Fan was hooked to arts and books but had to spend his entire life as a technician.
“I took my mother to watch ‘The Lady of the Camellias.’ But when I left the theater, I felt a sharp contrast while waiting for the bus ... It was loud, vulgar and nothing like the world on stage.”
Fan always felt that contrast in his life. While working as a technician in the day time, he found consolation in books at night.
“This is a terrible way of spending one’s life, not being able to choose or do anything one wants.”
Fan found some consolation by collecting bamboo carvings. These bamboo works were not only delicate artwork but were also the projection of junzi ideology. It connects a world that He can relate to.
On the bamboo brush holder is a carving that depicts a gathering of refined scholars.
They can be seen enjoying themselves, drinking tea, playing flute and sharing thoughts. There are some dancers too and a lady resting on a lounge.
Bamboo carving requires many skills. In “Bamboo Record,” a book on bamboo crafting, it is said that “One has to have an expertise in calligraphy, drawing and poetry before anyone attempts to proceed to bamboo carving.” In He’s opinion, most craftsmen nowadays only use this skill to earn a living, but they lack a deep understanding of culture, and, therefore, are unable to create a masterpiece.
At a Christie’s auction in 2005, a bamboo brush holder carved by Gu Yu sold for 9 million yuan. Since then it is considered a good investment. However, Fan hasn’t been to any antique market for almost 10 years.
“There is nothing genuine or worthy left there. They are either fake or carved by machine. The best time for collecting something is always before it becomes famous.”
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