1780–1850

Clear cherry amber, of ovoid form with a broad cylindrical neck and recessed foot, carved in relief with a woman carrying a branch of lingzhi and a child kneeling, holding a vase with large lotus leaves, the reverse decorated with the same exact scene, except the woman holds a fan, and lotus pods appear among the lotus leaves carried by the child, a mock-mask ring-handle carved on each shoulder.

Both lingzhi and fan are symbols of longevity. A boy with lotus forms the rebus "May you continuously give birth to distinguished sons." See Terese Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meaning in Chinese Art (San Francisco: 2006), no. 3.4.2. The bottle would seem fit as a wedding present to a young bride, wishing her a long life and to give birth to many boys.

H: 5.9 cm

Provenance 起源: Linda F. Crawley

Published 发布: Asiantiques, A Fascination for Miniatures: The Linda F. Crawley Collection of Chinese Snuff (2008), cat. no. 106

Ref. 106-L0618

Price on request