TWO CARVED NEPHRITE SNUFF BOTTLES

1700-1880

Details

TWO CARVED NEPHRITE SNUFF BOTTLES
1700-1880
The first, 1800-1880, is a pale greenish-white bottle of rounded form finely carved on both sides with carp swimming amongst lotus. The second, 1700-1880, is a russet and dark grey pebble-form bottle carved as a finger citron.
2 1/8 and 2 7/8 in. (5.3 and 7.3 cm.) high, carnelian and coral stoppers, bone spoons (2)

Provenance

Greenish-white bottle: Frank Caro, New York, 1980 (gift from Sidney, Gary and Victoria Schonfeld).
Pebble: Sotheby's New York, 17 September 1996, lot 229.

Lot Essay

The combination of the lotus (lian) and the carp (liyu) on the greenish-white jade bottle carries a hidden rebus meaning '[May you live in] abundance year after year' (liannian youyu). The large (da) size of the carp reinforces the meaning, '[May you make] big profits year after year' (liannian dali).

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