AN AMETHYST 'TWIN CAT' PENDANT, 19TH CENTURY China. The pendant is carved and reticulated in the form of two recumbent cats lying beside one another. The transparent stone is of an attractive violet tone.

Provenance: Old Austrian private collection.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, natural inclusions and fissures, and a minuscule nick to one tail.

Weight: 11.7 g
Dimensions: Length 3.4 cm

The popular Yin-Yang is widely represented with many creatures in Chinese culture, including cats. The cat is a symbol of longevity, as the Chinese word for 'cat' (mao) is homophonous with the poetic, yet arcane, Chinese word for 'eighty to ninety' (mao).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 5 November 2013, lot 226
Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pink tourmaline 'twin-cat' pendant, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related subject, form, carving style and size (4 cm). Note that this pendant is made from tourmaline, which has a higher raw value than amethyst.



十九世紀雙貓紫晶墜
中國。吊墜是雕刻成兩隻並排躺著的貓。透明的石料有著迷人的紫羅蘭色調。

來源：奧地利私人舊藏。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損、天然內沁和裂縫，一條貓尾有一個微小的缺口。

重量：11.7 克
尺寸：長3.4 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2013年11月5日，lot 226
價格：GBP 10,625（相當於今日EUR 16,000）
描述：十九世紀粉紅碧璽雙貓墜
專家評論：比較相近的主題、外型、雕刻風格和尺寸(4 厘米)。請注意此吊墜的材質為碧璽，價值較紫水晶高。