The signature Lao Tong is the sobriquet of the bamboo carver, Pan Xifeng, who was active during the 18th century. An example of his work, a small bamboo incense-burner, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee, is illustrated in Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, p. 420, no. 141 a and b.