THE CHINESE
COLLECTION
Bat &
Lingzhi Fungus
Snuff Bottle
A nephrite cameo carved picture pebble snuff bottle with a glass stopper.
B59
Nephrite, white with an ochre and brown skin, the brown area carved with lotus
leaves and a lingzhi fungus, and above that on the lighter material is a bat in
flight; the well hollowed bottle of natural pebble form.
Chinese, 1750-1850
Stopper: brown glass with coral coloured finial
Provenance: Erik Hancock
R. Cooper, 1976
Height: 6.1cm
The finest nephrite was found, primarily, in pebble form in the Khotan region
amongst the rivers and streams. Millions of years of exposure gave a darker
coloured skin, which, when carved away reveals a lighter area. This is a
nephrite pebble that has been carved imaginatively giving great tactile and
visual enjoyment.
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