B54 Pair of Fish Cameo Carved Snuff Bottle

A chalcedony well hollowed cameo carved picture snuff bottle with a moss agate stopper.

B54

Chalcedony, dark honey with a russet coloured translucent skin carved with two fish and a bubble, the disturbance in the water depicted with a few simple incisions to give extra dimension to the scene; the reverse with a third fish, with lotus and millet; the well-hollowed bottle of rounded form.

Chinese, 1750-1860
Stopper: green mottled jadeite on metal collar
Provenance: Lt.Co.B.M.L.Forsyth sold at Christies, London, 1975
Height: 5.5cm

The artist has here created a charming scene with the help nature. The Chinese word for fish yu is phonetically identical with the word for abundance and affluence. Two fish together symbolise marital bliss, and a fish with lotus forms the rebus 'Year after year may you live in affluence'.

The third fish belongs to the "eye - ball group" described by Hugh Moss (page 56) "Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica and Quartz Group."



THE CHINESE COLLECTION Pair of Fish Snuff Bottle A chalcedony well hollowed cameo carved picture snuff bottle with a moss agate stopper. B54 Chalcedony, dark honey with a russet coloured translucent skin carved with two fish and a bubble, the disturbance in the water depicted with a few simple incisions to give extra dimension to the scene; the reverse with a third fish, with lotus and millet; the well-hollowed bottle of rounded form. Chinese, 1750-1860 Stopper: green mottled jadeite on metal collar Provenance: Lt.Co.B.M.L.Forsyth sold at Christies, London, 1975 Height: 5.5cm The artist has here created a charming scene with the help nature. The Chinese word for fish yu is phonetically identical with the word for abundance and affluence. Two fish together symbolise marital bliss, and a fish with lotus forms the rebus 'Year after year may you live in affluence'. The third fish belongs to the "eye - ball group" described by Hugh Moss (page 56) "Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica and Quartz Group."