This bamboo brush pot is carved with scenes depicting scholars engaging in various artistic and cultural pursuits within a mountain landscape. The cylin-drical body depicts three groups of scholars: one is playing weiqi (game of Go); another group is admiring a scroll while drinking tea prepared by at-tendants; and the last shows a scholar probably playing a musical instru-ment, and surrounded by an audience. Making sculpture or functional vessels out of natural materials such as bamboo, wood, ivory, and rhinoceros horn has long been a part of Chinese culture. This brushpot is carved in many layers and levels of relief – from low to high, and even openwork.
