19th centuryThe teapot depicting the legendary grouping of seven historical poets and writers from the 3rd century CE known as the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove engaged in the four accomplishments expected of a gentleman: mastery of the stringed instrument qin, shown in its cloth cover held by one figure, the game of chess being played by four scholars on one side, three people played qin on a desk on the other sideLength 16cm Height 9.5cm