犀角雕洗硯圖盃

The present cup is well carved with differing layers to provide a varying degree of depth in the landscape. Instead of using tall trees to fashion the handle, in this instance ornamental rocks are rendered in openwork. The imagery of lotus blooms growing on rippled water with only a solitary depiction of an attendant washing an inkstone in the river, creates a scholarly theme of a lazy summer, drawing the viewer into the lone pavilion for a respite from the summer heat.