Compare with an 18th century white jade brushpot of similar size in the National Palace Museum collection included in the exhibition The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, National Palace Museum, Taipei, and illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 182, no. 60.

The pleasing proportions and fine carving on the current brushpot would have made it the ideal addition to the scholar's desk. It is also rich in symbolism, and carries with it several auspicious wishes. Two of the immortals hold peaches, which are associated with Shoulao and are symbols of longevity. Another immortal carries with him a vase ( ping), which is a pun for peace (ping'an). From this vase emerges a shuangxi character, representing double happiness. The young attendant who follows behind carries with him another vase containing a halberd (ji) and a stone chime (qing), forming the rebus 'jiqing', or 'auspicious happiness.'