18TH CENTURY

The two parts of the caddy are engraved with poems which describe the simple joys of life. On the right half is a poem entitled Zhi Lan Zhi Wei, 'The Scent of Irises and Orchids', which describes how the natural scenery, the pleasant companionship of friends and their intellectual exchanges compensate for humble dwellings. On the left is a poem entitled Xin Kuang Shen Yi, 'Relaxation and Happiness', which describes remedies for the weary mind and body: fishing, watering flowers, chopping bamboo, bathing, hiking etc., and how these activities refresh one's wellbeing and create a carefree state of mind. On the base of the caddy, the inscriptions on the right and the left halves are two parts of a poem which describe an idyllic domestic scene in the mountains, where a guest pays his hamlet-dwelling teacher a visit at dusk.