A SHADOW AGATE 'EAGLE AND BEAR' SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, 1760-1850

拍品描述

A SHADOW AGATE 'EAGLE AND BEAR' SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, 1760-1850 Well hollowed, the bottle of rounded-square form, supported on a short oval foot ring and rising to a cylindrical neck with a flat rim, minimally carved to one side using the ochre inclusions in the honey-amber stone to depict an eagle attacking a bear glancing over its back. Stopper: Coral on a black vinyl collar Dimensions: Height including stopper 65 mm. Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 7 mm. The eagle and bear motif, also known as 'yingxiong', is generally accepted as a pun for the word 'hero'. In fact, the words 'ying' [應], eagle, and 'xiong' [熊], bear, when read in rapid succession are homophones of the Chinese word 'yingxiong' [英雄], hero. Literature comparison: Compare a related silhouette agate snuff bottle, dated 1760-1860, at Sotheby's Auction HOUZHI: Fine Chinese snuff bottles: 29 April 1992, Hong Kong, 1992, lot 506. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 15 September 2025, lot 103 Price: USD 12,800 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and similar manipulation of the inclusions in the stone. Note the size (6 cm).

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