清十八世紀 王鑑作竹雕題詩高士攜琴訪友圖筆筒 《戊辰夏六月鏡千老人》款

the exterior delicately carved with a scholar leaning heavily on a long wooden stick and attended to by an acolyte while strolling in an immense landscape of rugged cavernous mountains vegetated with thick bamboo groves, beneath a pine tree by a trickling rivulet, the rock face carved with a short poem signed Jingqian Laoren ('The Elder of Thousand Mirrors') 

This brushpot is in very fine condition with only some surface wear. The colour of the piece is slightly richer than in the illustration.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Wang Jian, whose studio name was Jingqian Laoren, was a native of Jiangsu province, active during the 18th century and the nephew of the famous bamboo carver Wang Zhiyu.  Both Wangs were members of the Jiading school of bamboo carving and were especially renowned for their vivid and naturalistic carving technique.  Compare a related brushpot, similarly carved with a figure scene in a landscape, illustrated in Ip Yee and Laurence C.S. Tam, Chinese Bamboo Carving, part 1, Hong Kong, 1978, pl. 78.