1750-1850

The carver of this bottle has skillfully used the white shadings of the stone to different effects on either side. Particularly evocative is the manner in which the whitish-tone is used on the main side to create the effect of foamy mist rising from the waves. The scenes on both sides are laden with symbolism. The motif of an eagle standing on one leg, with sun and pine tree imparts several symbolic meanings. An eagle (ying) perched on one leg (duli) is a rebus for the phrase yingxiong duli (A great man towers over his peers). The imagery evokes ideals of courage, loyalty and the ability to achieve great things. The combination of an eagle and a pine tree conveys a wish that such a great man will live a long life. An (yi) egret (lusi) together with green (qing) lotus (lian) constitute the rebus: "[May you be] incorruptible throughout [your career] (yilu qinglian)." The single egret with the lotus seeds also means "[May you win] the top places in the successive examinations (yilu lianke)."