Boat Carved from an Olive Stone
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| Ganlan Olive Stone Miniature Boat | |
|---|---|
| 雕橄欖核舟 (Chinese) | |
| Artist | Chen Zuzhang (陳祖章) |
| Year | 1737 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Olive pit |
| Dimensions | 1.6 cm × 1.4 cm × 3.4 cm (0.63 in × 0.55 in × 1.3 in)[1] |
| Location | National Palace Museum, Taipei |
The Boat Carved from an Olive Stone (Chinese: 雕橄欖核舟) is a fruit pit carving of a boat made out of an olive pit. It is part of the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.[1]
The boat is a miniature carving of an olive pit, measuring only 1.4 by 3.4 centimetres (0.55 by 1.34 in) and is only 1.6 centimetres (0.63 in) tall.[1] Inside the boat, there are a total of eight figures, with the Song dynasty poet Su Tung-po sitting beside the window at the table. The sculpture features incredibly detailed carvings of windows on the side, with the center two panels movable. On top of the boat is a rolled up sail in rope.[2]
The full text of Su Tung-po's Latter Ode on the Red Cliff of more than 300 characters is engraved in details on the bottom of the boat, demonstrating the expert craftsmanship of the artist.[1] The poem depicts the poet enjoying a boat ride with his friends on a full moon night at the site of Battle of Red Cliffs. The artist, Chen, recreated a miniature moment, with the boat being a symbol of seclusion holding men safely on top of life and water.[3]