A CAMEO AGATE ‘BOY AND LOTUS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. Well hollowed, of rounded rectangular shape rising from an oval foot with a recessed base, to a short cylindrical neck, carved to one side utilizing the darker markings to depict a boy on a rock pointing at a lotus leaf. The translucent stone of beige tone with dark brown patches.

Provenance: From the estate of a surgeon in Washington, DC, USA, by repute acquired at auction prior to 1990.
Condition: Excellent condition, with a few nibbles to the mouth, lip, and rim. The stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time.

Stopper: Glass stopper imitating jade on metal mounting, carved spoon
Weight: 72 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 63 mm. Diameter neck 20 mm and mouth 7 mm.

The combination of a boy (zi) and a lotus (lian) forms the rebus ‘lian sheng gui zi (连生贵子)’ meaning ‘may you continuously give birth to distinguished sons’.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related silhouette agate ‘boy and lotus’ snuff bottle, dated 1740-1850, at Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 21 March 2014, lot 2470, sold for USD 7,500.

1750-1850年焦糖瑪瑙巧雕“童子戲荷”鼻烟壺
中國。掏膛良好，寬肩微削，橢圓形圈足，圓柱形頸，一面巧妙利用焦糖色雕刻童子站在石上手指荷葉。半透明石頭，帶有焦糖色斑塊。

來源：美國華盛頓一位外科醫生的收藏，據説1990年前購於一個拍賣行。
品相：品相極佳，嘴部和唇邊緣有小磕損。有天然紋理的石料，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的細縫。

壺蓋: 玻璃壺蓋，仿玉金屬，金屬托片，雕刻的小勺
重量：72 克
尺寸：含壺蓋高63 毫米. 頸部直徑20 毫米 ，嘴部直徑7 毫米.

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近瑪瑙巧雕“童子戲荷”，1740-1850年，見紐約佳士得Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2014年3月21日lot 2470, 售價USD 7,500。