Scholar’s water vessel for painting or calligraphy in the form of a pomegranate. Of burl wood inlaid with pebbles of carnelian and jasper. Chinese, late Ming – early Ching Dynasty, 17th – early 18th century.

For a similar scholar’s object, c.f. the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and the Fung Ping Shan Museum catalogue, Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, number 21.