B34

Chalcedony, pale-grey and beige with darker brown and russet patches carved with a cockerel perched on top of a rock, a flower nearby; the well-hollowed bottle of bulbous form with a raised oval foot rim and concave mouth.

Chinese, 1750 - 1760
Stopper: coral carved as a peach mounted on a metal collar
Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd, London, 1974
Height: 6cm

This is both intelligent and imaginative work combining to produce an extremely successful scene given the awkward nature of the natural markings in the agate. The cockerel is the tenth creature of the Chinese Zodiac, and is admired as a courageous and beneficent bird. He wards off evil, and symbolises reliability, as he never fails to mark the passing of the hours. A cock crowing represents achievement and fame. A cockerel depicted on an object would make a suitable gift for anyone wishing to enter the civil service, as the word for cockscomb guan is phonetically identical with guan (official) and therefore expresses the wish that the recipient may be rewarded with an official post.

Zodiac sign / Cockerel