QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

The exterior of the brush pot is inlaid with a variety of materials including coloured stones and mother-of-pearl, depicting a scene portrayed in chapter 34 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Liu Bei leaps his horse across the Tan Stream. On one side of the brush pot, the white Dilu horse can be seen carrying Liu Bei galloping to the edge of a broken bridge, with Cai Mao in pursuit and Zhao Yun guarding his lord from behind. This vividly captures a classic moment from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The other side of the brush pot is inlaid with magnolia and peony motifs, enriching the overall composition and infusing the otherwise heroic theme with a touch of scholarly elegance. This classic scene was included in woodblock prints from both the Ming and Qing dynasties, which may have served as inspiration for the composition of this brush pot (fig. 1). The base has an apocryphal Qianlong mark inlaid in mother-of-pearl.