Page 408 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

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404 | Bonhams A carved amber ‘melon and tree shrew’ group
Qing Dynasty
The rich brownish-gold amber intricately carved as one
larger melon surrounded by a twisting leafy vine issuing
clusters of smaller melons, a tree shrew peaking out from
under a leaf.
8cm (3 1/8in) wide
£3,000 - 5,000
HK$35,000 - 59,000 CNY28,000 - 47,000

清 琥珀雕樹鼩瓜果紋擺件

376
An amber carving of two gourds
Qing Dynasty
The amber of an even golden orange hue, carefully carved
as two gourds joined on a single stem entwined around
both fruits and issuing eight vine-like leaves.
6.5cm (2½in) high
£5,000 - 8,000
HK$59,000 - 94,000 CNY47,000 - 75,000

清 琥珀巧雕雙瓜式掛件

Golden-hued amber is traditionally thought to originate
from the Baltic (compared to the transparent brown and
reddish tones supposedly from Burma). Amber pendants
and snuff bottles became popular from the mid-Qing
period, and pieces carved from rich, evenly-toned amber
were particularly sought after. The smooth carving of the
gourds on the present lot emphasises the quality of the
amber, in particular when contrasted with the delicacy of
the leaves.

Gourds were a symbol of happiness and fecundity, and were
a popular subject matter for small carvings; compare the
more ornate treatment of gourds on various snuff bottles,
an example of which is illustrated by H.Moss, V.Graham and
K.B.Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary
and George Bloch Collection, Vol.7, Hong Kong, 2009,
no.1592.