Brush pot

[4] After Neo-Confucianism was welcomed as the formal doctrine in Korea at the beginning of the Joseon era, the new intellectually aware and literate yangban replaced aristocrats and Buddhist monks.

[5] This new elite ruling class spent a significant part of their time in writing calligraphy alongside reading.

[6] Made in wood, stone, porcelain and bamboo, brush pots were mostly cylindrical and were often decorated with traditional symbols inscribed on their body.

[6] In China, Ivory for its plain but jade-like texture is considered an excellent material for brush pots.

[10] In March 2019, the Art Institute of Chicago de-accessioned 22 Chinese jade carvings at a sale at Sotheby's New York.