Water container in the shape of a phoenix

This water container is carved in the shape of a seated phoenix with the feet, shown in low relief, tucked under the body. We can tell it is a phoenix because of the crane-like forehead, a crest resembling that of a mandarin duck, and long tail feathers. The feathers are textured with short hatchings. A tube for siphoning water is topped by two peaches, and an air hole is drilled between the two fruit. The owner would place a finger over the air hole, allowing the tube to draw up water, which the scholar would poured on the ink stone to grind the ink stick. The cavity on the phoenix's body is small and does not hold too much water. This suggests that it decorative rather than practical, and probably was intended to function as a paperweight.

Phoenixes and dragons traditionally symbolize the empress and the emperor. Chief among the birds, the auspicious phoenix is sometimes shown with all the birds in homage, a motif known as "the hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix." The phoenix is associated with the south, and with the bamboo and wutong trees. Because of its auspicious nature, there are many such representations in jade