H270xW40xL100mm, China
Since the Ming dynasty bamboo carving has been seen as a specialized art; the practitioners are literati who are master of calligraphy and stone carving, this together with the nature of the material bamboo (hollow internally with knots at intervals), bamboo carving has combined painting and sculpture in one art form. There are broadly two type of bamboo carving, utilitarian and decorative. The utilitarian form mostly make use of the hollow of the bamboo shaft (e.g. a pen holder, wine cup, weight etc) and relief type engraving on the surface of the bamboo. The decorative form are sculpture of figurines, birds, etc, the design would play on the solid and void of the material. This carving is the early work of the famous artist Zhang De He of Zhe style.
Mountain Folkcraft 