Deep-carved square gaming counter depicting a man pointing at an object which could be a small lantern. Is he a vendor? Two ladies turn their backs on him but also turn their heads as if curious to hear what he has to say. The intricate armorial belongs to Buller family of Somerset, Shillingham and Morval in Cornwall, England and shows a Moor’s head above a quarter-pierced shield decorated with a cross of four eagles. The crest has a person on both sides. One man seems to be leaving while the sitting gentleman is clearly admiring the nature surrounding him. The border on the front is decorated with plum flowers and bats. Plum flowers have five petals which represent ‘Longevity, Wealth, Health, Love of Virtue and a Peaceful death’. The bat (Fu) stands for ‘Blessings’. The border on the back shows berries of the evergreen plant ‘Rohdea Japonica’ (Wannianqing) which is a pun for ‘ten thousand years’. This stunning counter dates from the Daoguang period (道光 1820 – 1850). Width 4.7 cm. Height 3.3 cm. Thickness 0.22 cm.