A peach bloom glazed brush washer, Kangxi six character mark but 19th century , of compressed globular form, the exterior covered with a glaze of crushed purplish tone thinning in areas to mushroom, with white interior, Kangxi six character mark to the base, 11.5cm diameter This type of brush washer is described as of 'gong' shape for its very compressed body. It belongs to a group of eight vessel shapes referred to as the 'Eight Great Numbers', all covered in a peach bloom glaze and thought to serve as requisite appointments for the Emperor's writing table. According to J. Ayers, however, they may have been made as presents for the court. Ayers, 1999-2000, The Peach bloom Wares of the Kangxi Period', TOCS , vol. 64, pp. 31-50. Comparable pieces can be found in Valenstein, 1989, The Handbook of Chinese Ceramics , p. 237. 清十九世纪 豇豆红釉形洗 大清康熙六字款