Lot 240
240
**A RARE IVORY BOTTLE

Details
**A RARE IVORY BOTTLE
QIANLONG MARK, 1780-1880

Of tapering baluster shape, carved in deep relief and in the round with eighteen luohan at various pursuits, either on a pavilion terrace or near garden balustrades, each displaying a different attribute, below a dragon and cloud collar on the shoulder and a key-pattern band encircling the neck
3 1/8in. (7.9cm.) high, stopper, box

Lot Essay

This bottle appears to be carved from a single piece of ivory. This, and the high quality of the carving, suggests Chinese craftsmanship for this bottle, probably a Guangzhou carver. The rather scrawled Qianlong mark, however, is most unconvincing and probably an addition

For further discussion of ivory bottles see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, vol. II, Hong Kong, 1993, pp. 475-484