Cylindrical brush holder depicting the Red Cliff

The scene on the brush holder depicts the poet Su Dongpo (1036-1101) and his friends viewing the Red Cliff from a boat. The site of a famous battle fought in 208 CE, the Red Cliff inspired the poet to compose two rhapsodies. This scene with the flying crane was based upon the second rhapsody, and it was a popular subject among the decorative arts of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Li Xiqiao lived during the Qing dynasty and was noted for his bamboo carving.