Yang Boda discusses the diversity of such "potted landscapes" or "potted flowers" in Tributes from Guangdong to the Qing Court, Hong Kong, 1987, p. 55. All media could be employed, organic or inorganic, to recreate miniature plants and rockeries 'for the viewing employment of the Emperor and his concubines living within the halls of the palace complex.' The choice of subject usually represented some kind of auspicious meaning. In this case, lingzhi is a wish-fulfilling symbol as well as a symbol for longevity.

An identical pair of cloisonne enamel jardinieres was sold in these Rooms, 28 April 1996, lot 22; while similar stems of champleve enamelled gilt-bronze lingzhi can be seen growing from a pair of painted glass octagonal planters, also sold in these Rooms, 7 July 2003 (Catalogue dated 28 April 2003), lot 593.

Another similar example of lingzhi growing in a gu is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, vol. 10, Gold, Silver, Glass and Enamels, Wenwu chubanshe, 1987, p. 195, no. 348. See also the hardstone-inlaid stems in combination with wannianqing growing from one of a pair of red lacquer jardinieres dated to the Qianlong period, from the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Art Treasures from Birthday Celebrations at the Qing Court, Hong Kong. An enamelled and hardstone-inlaid and gilt-copper lingzhi spray is in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, included in the Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, Taiwan, 1994, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 104.