Polychrome Brush Holder with Figure Designs over a Snowflake Blue Ground

The interior of the brushholder is glazed white while the exterior is decorated in polychrome on a blue ground. The painting depicts the God of Literature holding a magical brush in his right hand and a silver ingot in his left hand. He stands on a plum tree stump as if about to run. The words for “brush” and “necessary” are both pronounced bi while words for “ingot” and “certainly” are both pronounced ding. The objects held by the God of Literature thereby create the rebus “victory without fail” (bi ding duo kui).