The inscribed essay was composed by the Han Dynasty official, Wan Tiexiao, entitled Shengzhu Dexian Chensong, 'Praise to the Wise Emperor who finds virtuous officials'. The sealmark reads: Xichao quangu, 'The Court of Kangxi Transmitting Antiquity'. Compare with similar brushpots with identical inscriptions, the first in the Nanjing Museum is illustrated in Imperial Kiln Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 1997, no. 2; and other was sold in these Rooms, 2 November 1999, lot 605.