As the group of sales at New York auction houses called Asia Week approaches an interesting category at Christie’s auction house in Rockefeller Center.  Brush washers.  No, not like the OXO unit at your sink, this was used to clean calligraphy brushes and paint brushes many years ago, in this case during the 18th Century.  While I know it is priced according to it’s craftsmanship, condition, and collectibility I wondered what it would be like to be valued according to what was accomplished by these brushes?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what was written by the brushes that were washed in this vessel?

It exhibits starting March 16 and sells on March 23 in a 2 PM session.

As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes

TOMORROW: A more contemporary Asian LOT