18th/19th century
The flattened body of rounded rectangular shape raised on a recessed foot, the dark central inclusion in the translucent honey stone cleverly carved to depict a light-footed smiling Liu Hai dancing on top of his three-legged toad, swinging a cash string over his head, stopper. 6.1cm (2 3/8in) high. (2).
Footnotes
The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.HXX8CPPC
該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》(章節10)註冊Ref.HXX8CPPC
十八/十九世紀 瑪瑙巧雕劉海戲蟾圖鼻煙壺
Provenance: Lt. Col. B.M.L. Forsyth
Christie's London, 18 March 1975, lot 101
Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.B30
B.M.L. Forsyth中校
倫敦佳士得,1975年3月18日,拍品編號101
Trudy及John Cohen伉儷,藏品編號B30
The present lot depicts Liu Hai (劉海), the patron deity of commerce and wealth, typically shown with his three-legged toad and strings of cash to lure it from the water.
Compare with a related agate snuff bottle, 1790-1880 and attributed to the Official School, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 27 March 2003, lot 274.