Finely detailed boxwood (huang yang mu) carving which is full of symbolism. First of all the material from which it was carved, boxwood, which is an ‘evergreen’, grows very slowly and as a result represents Longevity. Then the carving shows a scholar’s desk with various scholarly objects surrounded by clouds (Granting of all wishes). Scholars were usually high officials, a position which was very desirable. Depicted are from left to right a vase which symbolizes Peace (ping’an), a box (He) or ‘Harmony’, a brush pot containing brushes (Bi) or ‘Certainly’, a fly whisk (chenfu) or ‘Longevity’, a wrist rest or ink stone rest (one of the scholar’s objects), a tasseled stone chime (Qing) or ‘Celebrate’, a cauldron which is a pun for ‘Must’ from which a ruyi shaped (Everything you wish for) vapor emanates, a number of cups (unknown meaning), a musical instrument called Qin which is a symbol of the ‘Four Scholarly Pursuits’, a Lingzhi fungus on a pedestal or ‘As you wish’, a wine pot (yet unknown), books or ‘High rank’ and an unknown object which looks like a container with a lid, on the floor. This small carving once formed part of a piece of furniture, perhaps a desk, and dates from the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). It was discovered in Shanghai and was added to our collection in 2010. Height 6 cm. Width 12.5 cm. Depth 1.7 cm.