A carved bamboo 'scholars' brushpot Qing dynasty, 19th century, of cylindrical form, the sides carved in deep relief with a continuous scene of scholars and attendants variously occupied amongst rocks, trees, banana palms and bamboo groves, in a garden outside a pavilion terrace, some seated at painting tables, others carving an inscription on a rock face, signed Mushan and a seal reading Zhou, the inscription reading shoulie bing zi qiu yu (hunting autumn of bingzi year), 15.5 cm high