Rare Antique Blue-and-white Porcelain Brush Wash in Butterfly Shape. The two holes on the top are for resting the brushes in between painting or writing; the larger empty space is where a calligrapher or painter can clean the brush or for thinning the ink held on the brush. This small antique brush wash with a rare beautiful butterfly shape has a Chinese government's antique waxed seal at the bottom and is from the 1850's or so.