This pair of drum-shaped containers feature tiny beads of clay, which were applied to the lid and container before they were fired. The containers are decorated mythical beasts perched on a rock amid waves. These containers may have been used for holding 'weiqi' or chess seeds. Playing Chinese chess or weiqi is regarded as one of the 'Four Pursuits' of a scholar, the other three being music, calligraphy and painting.
