China, 1740-1820

Both of flattened, ovoid form

The red one with swirly orange and yellow tones in imitation of realgar, with a moonstone lid

The darker one with swirly orange, brown and black tones, with a jade lid

7cm high

113g

>> Both in very good condition, no chips or cracks

Provenance: Private collection, Singapore, acquired in the 70s; and thence by descent to the present owner

Note: The Chinese name for realgar is xionghuang ??, literally 'masculine yellow'. Its toxicity was also well known to them, and it was frequently sprinkled around houses to repel snakes and insects, as well as being used in Chinese medicine