#reverse decoration

A lacquered ivory hexagonal brushpot, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Reverse decorated with a continuous scene depicting two birds hovering over gnarled branches bearing prunus buds and blossoms, with several leafy small bamboo shoots rising from below, all reserved in the natural colour of the ivory material, and all against a black lacquer ground, between two bands of key-fret borders, the base decorated with a hexagon enclosing a brush, a stylised ingot (ding) and a ruyi bloom, wood stand. 14.3 cm.