A 'MONKEY AND PEACH' AGATE PENDANT, SUZHOU SCHOOL, QING DYNASTY China, 19^th century or slightly earlier. Finely carved in openwork and pierced as a monkey playfully clambering on a lingzhi stem, two bats perched atop the lingzhi, the reverse with further lingzhi, a bat and a peach. The translucent stone of a pale gray tone with dark brown inclusions cleverly utilized to highlight the bat, lingzhi and eyes of the monkey and other animals.

Provenance: French private collection. Artcurial, Paris, 8 December 2014, lot 12. A notable private collector in Kensington, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from Artcurial, dated 9 December 2014 and stating a purchase price for the present lot (dated to the 19^th century) of EUR 5,460 or approx. EUR 6,400 (adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot.
Condition: Good condition with minor old wear, traces of use, minuscule nicks to exposed areas.

Weight: 29.1 g
Dimensions: Length 5.3 cm

The homophone for monkey, hou, one of the twelve zodiac animals, is 'nobleman' or 'high official' as well as 'descendants'. The monkey therefore represents the wish for the success of one's descendants. The representation of monkey and peach relates to the legendary Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, who stole the peaches of immortality. Therefore, the present lot bestows auspicious wishes for success and longevity for generations.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1374
Price: USD 5,250 or approx. EUR 6,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Suzhou agate pendant, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely carving, motif, and size (5.4)

13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.
清代蘇造猴子捧桃瑪瑙掛件
中國，十九世紀或更早。精雕細琢，瑪瑙晶瑩剔透，十分水潤。猴子捧著桃枝，上面有一顆晶瑩的桃子。背後有靈芝，靈芝上棲息兩隻蝙蝠。半透明瑪瑙，帶有深棕色的內沁，巧妙地塑造了蝙蝠、靈芝和猴子等動物的眼睛。

來源：法國私人收藏；巴黎Artcurial，2014年12月8日，lot 12；倫敦肯辛頓知名私人收藏，購於上述拍賣。隨附原始拍賣行發票副本（斷代為十九世紀），2014年12月9日出具，價格爲EUR 5,460 相當於現在的 EUR 6,400 。
品相：狀況良好，有輕微的磨損與使用痕跡，表面有微小的刻痕。

重量：29.1 克
尺寸：長5.3 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月22日，lot 1374
價格：USD 5,250（相當於今日EUR 6,500）
描述：清十九世紀蘇作瑪瑙靈猴獻壽墜
專家評論：比較非常相近的雕刻、主題和尺寸 (5.4)。