With the advancement of the times, the practical application of the brush has obviously become limited, and it has become a product of art collection, appreciation of antiques, calligraphy, and painting. With the demands of social economy and culture, the production and variety of brushes have continuously improved and increased, with process improvements making brushes more refined and exquisite. The brush is not easy to preserve, as the bristles are practical and prone to damage, so the appreciation of brushes mainly focuses on the shape of the bristles, but even more importantly, on the decorative aspects of the brush tubes, which are rich in color and content.

The shape of the bristles is improved and enhanced for the needs of writing and painting. Ancient people made the bristles in the shape of bamboo shoots, which is a traditional Chinese name, belonging to short-fiber lamb hair and blended brushes. The tip is short and the body is thick and short, resembling a bamboo shoot in shape. The belly of the tip is thick and robust, making it easy to produce heavy and solid strokes on paper. In addition to being practical, it also gives people an aesthetic interest. Another example is the brush with bristles shaped like orchids, which is one of the traditional Chinese brush types. The brush head is round, white, pure, and delicate, resembling a blooming jade orchid, giving a beautiful and pleasant visual experience. In ancient times, there was another type called "gourd-shaped" brushes, which were blended brushes with smooth and firm bristles.

After the brush tube became an object of appreciation and collection, people often used precious treasures and pearls to make brush tubes, to achieve decorative beauty or to show off wealth and status. For instance, in the third volume of "Wenfang Si Kao Tushuo" (Notes on the Study of Stationery) by Tang Bingjun during the 43rd year of Qianlong (1778 AD), it is mentioned: "In the Han dynasty, brushes were decorated with gold, embellished with lapis lazuli, adorned with Suizhu (pearls from Sui), and patterned with Feicui (jade). The tube was either made of rare wood or ivory, and was extremely luxurious." At that time, brushes were not only tools for calligraphy and painting, but some were also artistic objects for appreciation and enjoyment. The text describes the decoration of the brush tube reaching perfection and craftsmanship, completing the conditions for appreciation. For example, ancient craftsmen could use the small circumference of the brush tube to depict and engrave clever landscapes and figures, depicting the momentum of mountains and seas, which fully demonstrated unique decorative interest. This met the conditions for appreciation. The black lacquer, colored lacquer with gold-painted cloud dragon, dragon and phoenix, and double dragon brush tubes in the Palace Museum's collection are examples of this.

These brushes and brush cases are all lacquered with black as the base, with colorful lacquer used to paint mountains, seas, clouds, and dragons playing with pearls. The sea is turbulent, the mountains are towering, and between them, waves crash against the rocks, creating a powerful atmosphere. With just a few strokes, it conveys a vast and open view, complementing the mighty dragon soaring through the sky, leaping and playing with pearls among the clouds, displaying a grand and magnificent scene. Moreover, the colorful lacquer painting is delicate, the colors are bright and harmonious, the composition is clear, and the layout is strict. The brush tube and case are inlaid with gold edges, adding a sense of luxury and elegance. The brush head has a smooth and lustrous color, is round and solid, with a gourd-shaped tip that is sharp and elegant, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. It possesses the four qualities of sharpness, neatness, roundness, and resilience, serving as evidence of the level of brush-making in the Ming Dynasty, and is a precious item among the four treasures of the study. It is a rare item for brush appreciation. Therefore, the focus of brush appreciation lies in examining the material of the brush tube and the artistic level of its decoration, painting, carving, and inlaying. The higher the quality of the material and decoration, the greater the value.

To identify ancient brushes, one must first systematically understand and recognize the preserved relics and the history of brushes from various eras, grasping their rich cultural connotations. Determine the historical upper and lower limits of the brush, distinguish the regions where they were made, grasp the characteristics of famous brush-makers from each era, and differentiate between folk-made brushes, imperial court products, or those produced by the court. Also, determine whether they were official tributes or made by the court's own workshop. Next, examine the condition of the bristles. Then, focus on the decoration of the brush tube, checking if there are inscriptions by famous brush-makers, or if there are dedications or inscriptions by celebrities. To correctly classify the era of a celebrity, one must have extensive scientific and cultural knowledge and literary proficiency to recognize the poems, essays, and writings of celebrities, thereby identifying the era of the artifact and reflecting its value. Each kind of artifact has had fake items produced in different historical periods. As long as we enrich our knowledge, see and learn more, and humbly ask others for advice, we can improve our ability to recognize and identify artifacts.