Need help reading/identifying chinese bamboo wrist rest

[Thoth33]

I have done a good bit of research on this piece and although I have found many pieces similar to it(mostly from the Qing Dynasty) I have been unable to identify the artist. There is a single chinese character on the back that I am now beginning to believe may have been made by someone who owned this piece at one time and not the artist signature. I also believe the characters to be in traditional chinese but I do not read chinese so maybe someone can help me. Thanks so much!

[aone]

Characters are

 

米雪勵高標 

己未仲春

 

趙

[MPhillips]

氷［ice］雪 ！

氷雪 ["ice & snow", metaphorically "adversity"] 勵 [encourages] 高標 [high achievement on the imperial examinations]

= Adversity encourages academic achievement [one possibility-I might be wrong of course]

己未 [1979 or 1919 or 1859 & so on & so forth] 仲春 [second month of Spring according to the lunar calendar]

趙 (Zhao-a family name)

[Thoth33]

Thank you very much It's so nice to finally have some insight into this piece! so there is no way to put a date on it based on what is written on it? The back of the piece looks fairly old in my opinion what are the chances that it may be fake?

[aone]

Sorry for the mistake; MPhilips is right , 米 be should 氷

[MPhillips]

Sorry, it can't be dated from the inscription alone.

[Thoth33]

Bonhams has a very similar piece on its sight from the style of Li Fangyin. I have looked everywhere and this piece resembles the one I have more than any other I have seen.

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21382/lot/12/

[Thoth33]

Again thank you very much your information is very helpful.

[MPhillips]

Good luck authenticating it!

[Thoth33]

I'm sorrry this may seem like a stupid question but does China still use the lunar calander?

[aone]

Yes~  the lunar calendar is still (and will be) in use

[Thoth33]

Ok thank you. Do you think the signature on the back is the artist signature?

[aone]

Might be the collector's or the artist's