Four faceted ivory brushpots, bitong17th/18th century |Comprising: one of octagonal form, carved with floral panels, alternating with poetic couplets complimenting the beauty of various flowers; a hexagonal brushpot, relief carved with chrysanthemums, prunus and lotus, alternating with further panels of poetic couplets of similar subject; another similar floral brushpot, uninscribed; and a hexagonal brushpot, each face incised with couplets of the poem 'Going Out The Passes' by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu, bases missing. |The largest 12cm (4.3/4in) high. (4).|Provenance|Carved on one side with a floral landscape and on another with an inscription, the composition is reminiscent of the typical structure of classical Chinese painting. Compare the 'floral' brushpots with a late Ming ivory example from the Ashfield Collection and the Adrian Joseph Collection, sold in Bonhams Hong Kong, 26 May 2013, Lot 306.|Another comparable example dated 17th/18th century, sold in Sotheby's London, 9 November 2011, Lot 12.|