Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Chinese Antique Cache 98 Bamboo Wood Calligraphy Slips, Collectors Find

$338per set
$450per set24% Off
£256.47per set
£341.45per set24% Off
€293.25per set
€390.42per set24% Off
CA$472.09per set
CA$628.53per set24% Off
A$524.90per set
A$698.84per set24% Off
CHF 274.08per set
CHF 364.89per set24% Off
MX$6,389.37per set
MX$8,506.56per set24% Off
NOK 3,497.09per set
NOK 4,655.89per set24% Off
SEK 3,276.61per set
SEK 4,362.35per set24% Off
DKK 2,188.55per set
DKK 2,913.75per set24% Off
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Bamboo and wooden slips - jiandú- were the main media for writing documents in China before the widespread introduction of paper during the first two centuries AD. This substantial group, 98 pieces, of one-of-a-kind slips with painted hand calligraphy appeals to book lovers and antiquity sleuths We believe them to be circa 1900 , Qing dynasty and are offering this group from a collection of old works of art. Dimensions: bamboo slips vary 10 inches long and .75 inches wide to 12 inches long Provenance: Coming from an old Chengdu collection assembled in the 1970s. History: Bamboo and wooden slips jiandú were the main media for writing documents in China before the widespread introduction of paper during the first two centuries AD. The earliest surviving examples of wood or bamboo slips date from the 5th century BC during the Warring States period. However, references in earlier texts surviving on other media make it clear that some precursor of these Warring States period bamboo slips was in use as early as the late Shang period (from about 1250 BC). Bamboo or wooden strips were the standard writing material during the Han dynasty and excavated examples have been found in abundance. Subsequently, the invention of paper by Cai Lun during the Han dynasty began to displace bamboo and wooden strips from mainstream uses, and by the 4th century AD bamboo had been largely abandoned as a medium for writing in China. The long, narrow strips of wood or bamboo typically carry a single column of brush-written text each, with space for several tens of visually complex ancient Chinese characters. Each strip of wood or bamboo is said to be as long as a chopstick and as wide as two. For longer texts, many slips were sewn together used to make a kind of folding book. The custom of interring books made of the durable bamboo strips in royal tombs has preserved many works in their original form through the centuries. An important early find was the Jizhong discovery in 279 AD of a tomb of a king of Wei, though the original recovered strips have since disappeared. Several caches of great importance have been found in recent years. We have been dealing in authentic Chinese and Japanese antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels to Japan each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition. Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)Depth: 0.125 in (3.18 mm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 98
  • Style:
    Qing (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Early 20th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    South Burlington, VT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1289240333662

More From This Seller

View All
Chinese Old Bamboo Slips with Calligraphy Jiandu, 59 Piece Collection
Located in South Burlington, VT
Bamboo and wooden slips - jiandú- were the main media for writing documents in China before the widespread introduction of paper during the first two centuries AD. This substantial group, 59 pieces, of one-of-a-kind slips with painted and applied hand calligraphy appeals to book lovers and antiquity sleuths We believe them to be circa 1900 Qing dynasty and are offering this group from a collection of old works of art. Dimensions: bamboo slips...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Chinese Pair Buddhist Tang Bodhisattvas Hand Painted Old Wood Plaques
Located in South Burlington, VT
A wonderful Chinese hand painted pair (2) paintings on old wooden panels of Buddhist Bodhisattvas in amorous poses with child and elephant presence and long flowing robes. Frame ...
Category

20th Century Chinese Tang Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Chinese Pair Buddhist Tang Bodhisattvas Hand Painted Old Wood Plaques
Located in South Burlington, VT
A wonderful Chinese hand painted pair (2) paintings on old wooden panels of Buddhist Bodhisattvas in attractive poses with crown mandorla and long flowing robes. Frame them or mou...
Category

20th Century Chinese Tang Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Fine Antique Screen Hand Painted "Buddhist Nature" in Sumi Ink
Located in South Burlington, VT
From our recent Japanese Acquisition Travels Praised as "the crown of poets from the eastern lands." Japan, a good antique six-panel screen Byobu depicting hand painted on paper w...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Artisan's Cache of 25 Old Chinese Paint Calligraphy Bamboo Brushes
Located in South Burlington, VT
Here's a rare find from a collector we visited in Japan. A very unusual treasure.... This is a cache of old Chinese and Japanese bamboo paint and calligraphy artist brushes dating ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Showa Prints

Materials

Bamboo

Japanese Pair Antique Lantern Garden Woodblock Prints 19c, immediately Framable
Located in South Burlington, VT
Two (2) Fine Old Woodblock Lanterns Garden Prints : Stone Pagoda, Gardens, Stepping Stones & Lush Landscapes Japan two (2) antique Old Kyoto Garden Woodblock prints from an original...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

Vintage Scholar Calligraphy Bamboo Etched Wall Art Sculpture Kanji Tiki Chinese
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful imported relics of the late 1940s old post-war U.S. suburban veteran household. procured from a time capsule estate. These really command a room, reflect the light just r...
Category

Vintage 1950s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Scholar's Objects

Materials

Bamboo

19th Century Sanskrit Prayer Book Pages
Located in Chicago, IL
19th century or older - Sanskrit Prayer Book Pages Beautiful patina to the worn pages with very dark black background with Sanskrit. Black has subtle shee...
Category

Antique 19th Century Asian Antiquities

Materials

Paper

Collection of Four Japanese Wood Print Blocks Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of four carved wood print blocks from Japan circa late 19th century (Meiji Period). Constructed and hand-chiseled from hardwood, the printing blocks were finely carved o...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Other Scholar's Objects

Materials

Wood

Antique Thailand Sutra Bamboo / Palm Leave Book, 1873
Located in Norton, MA
Antique Thailand sutra bamboo/palm leave book, 1873. There are about 48 pages and are written on double sides with lots of writing. The following handwriting on the Lacquer reads: ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Thai Scholar's Objects

Materials

Lacquer, Parchment Paper

Chinese PRoC Calligraphy Porcelain plaques Bought in Hong Kong in 1997
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely plaque. Dimensions: plaque 35.5cm x 24.3M. Frame Total 47.7 x 36.5cm The plaque will be sent with track and trace, safely packed and insured. 7-5-19-24-9 C...
Category

20th Century Chinese Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Burmese Manuscript - Kammavaca book from Burma
Located in DEVENTER, NL
Discover this antique Burmese Kammavaca manuscript, an extraordinary 19th-century artifact showcasing Burma’s rich Buddhist heritage. Crafted from la...
Category

Antique 19th Century Burmese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Lacquer