A rare brushpot with incised calligraphy. Qing dynasty, 19th century

with straight sides and flat base, rising to an everted lip, incised in regular script along the exterior with a 17 line poem, the title reading yan taoli yuan xu ('a preface to the poem Collection of the Banquet at the Peach and Plum Garden'), the calligraphy stained dark brown, the vessel of warm grayish-brown tone, supported on three short arched feet, the base with a small aperture and five inscribed simplified characters. height 4 in., 10.2 cm. Estmate: 6,000 – 8,000 USD

Provenance: PROPERTY FROM THE WALTER AND MONA LUTZ BAMBOO COLLECTION

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com