A bearded scholar relaxes in a garden setting with a cup of tea. An official, recognizable by his hat, bows to him to show his respect. On the left a guard armed with a lance keeps an eye on what’s happening. The background consists of houses and trees. On the back side of this counter is a roundel with fine back hatching and the ornate initials ‘MAW’. The roundel is flanked on the left side by an animal which resembles a fox but could also be a wolf and on the right side by a man armed with two swords who apparently tries to scare off the animal. The intricately fretted border is decorated with squirrels and grapes as well as two butterflies. Squirrels and grapes have a hidden meaning to the Chinese. Squirrels get a lot of offspring and grapes grow in large clusters which implies a wish for many generations of sons and grandsons. The two butterflies symbolize a happy marriage. The counter dates from the Daoguang period (道光 1820 – 1850). Length 7.2 cm. Height 2.8 cm. Thickness 0.27 cm.