A muttonfat nephrite snuff bottle carved in the form of a carp, the tail provides a built in dish. A glass and metal stopper.

The tail provides a built in dish of the muttonfat nephrite snuff bottle carved in the form of a carp. A glass and metal stopper.

THE CHINESE COLLECTION

 

Fish Snuff Bottle

 

A muttonfat nephrite snuff bottle carved in the form of a carp, the tail provides a built in dish.  A glass and metal stopper.

B20

Nephrite, mutton fat of pale mottled appearance, carved in the form of a plump, hunched up carp with its fan tail splayed behind, its fins, scales and eyes all realistically carved.

Chinese, 1750 - 1860
Stopper: glass mounted in metal collar
Provenance: Harry Ross collection, sold Christies, 1978
Length: 6.4cm

This is one of only a small group of fish bottles, most of which are realistically and confidently carved displaying mildly comical features. The Chinese word for fish 'yu' is phonetically identical with the word meaning 'abundance or affluence' so a fish is a symbol for wealth.

 

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