The literati culture owes its origin to the Confucian belief that men should not only learn from books but also by refining their character and cultivating the arts.
The main treasures of an educated person of the elite or literati are his desk-related objects to practice the art of brush and ink: calligraphy, poetry and painting. The brush holder or bitong is one of many desk objects that are both practical and art pieces.
Ivory was appreciated in China for its translucent and soft jadelike quality. With a continuous design, the delicate shades of the Chinese carving on white ivory make this piece a monochrome painting in relief.