17th centuryThe cylindrical vessel finely carved around the exterior with the mythical figure of Zhong Kui, the vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings seated at ease, using a stick to clean his left ear resulting in ticklish facial expression, the other side with a twenty-character kaishu inscription, raised on three shallow-cut feet, the bamboo of a dark reddish-brown hue, fitted box. 14.8cm (5 7/8in) high