A LARGE CAMEO AGATE ‘EAGLE AND BEAR’ SNUFFBOTTLE...
A LARGE CAMEO AGATE ‘EAGLE AND BEAR’ SNUFFBOTTLE
China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Carved out of a semi-translucent light brown stone, the skin of the stone partially preserved to the front part and both carved and engraved to resemble an eagle and a bear. Very well hollowed.
H: 6 cm
Weight: 92,4 grams
Notes:
1. The bear (xiong 熊) is not often depicted on Chinese charms and amulets but it is a powerful animal that the Chinese believe can invoke fear in evil spirits just as well as humans. It is sometimes shown, like on our snuffbottle, with an eagle because eagle or hawk (ying 鹰) and bear (xiong 熊) together sound just like the word "hero" (yingxiong 英雄).
2. See a related snuffbottle preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of New York (The Met), The United States of America, under accession number 14.40.448a, b, bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913.
“鹰与熊”玛瑙鼻烟壶
中国，清代，19世纪
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A LARGE CAMEO AGATE ‘EAGLE AND BEAR’ SNUFFBOTTLE
China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Carved out of a semi-translucent light brown stone, the skin of the stone partially preserved to the front part and both carved and engraved to resemble an eagle and a bear. Very well hollowed.
H: 6 cm
Weight: 92,4 grams
Notes:
1. The bear (xiong 熊) is not often depicted on Chinese charms and amulets but it is a powerful animal that the Chinese believe can invoke fear in evil spirits just as well as humans. It is sometimes shown, like on our snuffbottle, with an eagle because eagle or hawk (ying 鹰) and bear (xiong 熊) together sound just like the word "hero" (yingxiong 英雄).
2. See a related snuffbottle preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of New York (The Met), The United States of America, under accession number 14.40.448a, b, bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913.
“鹰与熊”玛瑙鼻烟壶
中国，清代，19世纪
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