An unusual Chinese carved burl wood brushpot, possibly "chenxiangmu" Of an aromatic timber, the fantastically shaped sides depicting a celestial deity on a cloud above a pavilion, the other side with a deer, monkey in a hollow, flowers, bats and grapes, and a large lion-like beast, underside with two roughly incised characters, "Bai Shi" Approx. H: 8 1/4 in., 21cm PROVENANCE: Property from the collection of Ann and Don McPhail, Philadelphia, PA Acquired from L'Asie Exotique, La Jolla, California, March 28, 1998