of circular section, the exterior skillfully carved in running script with three poems and an inscription reading bingshen xiawu zhonghuan muyin shaoliang ti ying Xietang laoyou xiansheng mingji zheng Zhujing laoren Ying Lian baishu (respectfully written by Zhujing laoren Ying Lian at the request of an old friend the venerable Xietang on a cool midsummer evening in the middle of the fifth month of the bingshen year), accompanied by two seals Lian and Zhujing laoren (old man of the bamboo well), followed by two more poems and another inscription reading bingshen xinqiuri ti ying Xietang laodaren ming bingzheng Xuetang Cheng Jingyi (written by Xuetang Cheng Jingyi at the request of the venerable Xietang in the early Autumn of the bingshen year), accompanied by two seals Cheng Jingyi yin (seal of Cheng Jingyi) and Pinsan, the densely grained wood patinated to a dark brown tone

The brushpot is in good overall condition. It is missing its base plug and there are fine radiating cracks from the aperture. The base with a small V-shape chip and tiny nicks. The rim with tiny nicks and further fine splits.The surface with appropriate wear. Please note that this lot will require a CITES permit for export outside of the United States.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present brushpot is signed by Ying Lian (1707-1783) and Cheng Jingyi (1712-1780), both of whom were high officials of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ying Lian, zi Jiliu, hao Mengtang, native of Liaodong (today's Liaoyang), Liaoning province, passed the imperial examination and became a juren in the 10th year of Yongzheng (1733). During his political life, he was appointed to several important positions, including the Secretary of Ministry of Justice and Viceroy of Zhili. Cheng Jingyi, zi Pinsan, a native of Wujin (Changzhou), Jiangsu province, passed the imperial examination and received the jinshi title in the 4th year of Qianlong (1739). He served as the Secretary of Ministry of Works. The biographies of Ying Liang and Cheng Jingyi are recorded in Qingshigao [Draft History of Qing], juan 320.

The inscriptions on the present brushpot suggest that the poems were written for a person named Xietang, who can be identified as Zhou Yuanli (1706-1782). Zhou Yuanli, zi Bingzhong, a native of Renhe (Hangzhou), Zhejiang province, was an official of the Qing dynasty and contemporary of Ying and Cheng, known to have a hao as Xietang. More importantly the Qingshigao records that in the 40th year of Qianlong (yiwei year), (Zhou) Yuanli was seventy years old, a date that coincides with the inscription on the present brushpot by Ying Lian, which can be translated as 'last year (yiwei year, corresponding to 1775) you turned seventy years old, and this year (bingshen, corresponding to 1776) I will turn the same age'. For a complete biography of Zhou Yuanli, see Qingshigao, juan 324.