Spirit Screen Brush Washer

Set beside the four treasures of the scholars' studio, brush washers were used by Qing-dynasty scholars to rinse ink from calligraphy brushes. This porcelain brush washer is sculpted in the shape of a spirit screen painted with flowers and tall grasses. Petite screens were used tabletop to partition interiors, block drafts, or - according to feng shui - to stop evil spirits from approaching. A charming relic from the past, we love the idea that this brush washer could be placed on a desk as a barrier against distraction and negative energy.