Stained ivory brush holder

This ivory brush holder has been stained a dark color by being soaked in strong tea. This has not only created an unusual piece, but it has highlighted the detail of the detail carving as well as the detail of the grain of the ivory. One will notice the grain best on the bottom of the brush holder. The central incised scene consists of two women and two men in a landscape setting. There are various mountains, trees, and a bridge carved in very fine detail. The story behind the scene is uncertain, but it seems that the characters are in classical (possibly Tang) dress. Notice the different detail of the robes of the individuals. The women seem to be rendered in similar fashions, but the men have their own distinct characteristics. There are two smaller registers under the central scene. The higher of the two consists of a band of flowers that circles the object. The bottom register consists of a repeating wave-like pattern that extends around the object as well. Chinese characters on the bottom indicate the object was "Made during the reign of the Emperor Ch'ien Lung." The small wooden stand is detachable from the ivory brush holder