Chinese carnelian agate vase or brush washer, 18th/19th century, Qing dynasty 1720 - 1820

Unknown artist

AgateCarnelianGemstone
7.80 ⨯ 9.50 ⨯ 5.50 cm
ConditionMinor damages
Price on request

Menken Works of Art

• About the artwork
  A fine Chinese red carnelian agate ‘tree trunk’ vase or washer.
  Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century.
  
  Cleverly hollowed out and carved in relief as a section of a tree trunk, the exterior with gnarled leafy tree branches issuing peaches, flanked by two lingzhi and a bat flying in upward motion.
  
  Symbolism:
  Bat (fu 蝠), peach (tao 桃), and fungus (lingzhi 靈芝) combined make a rebus: “May your heart be filled with intelligence when blessings arrive” (fuzhi xinling 福至心靈). The saying literally means “May you be inspired when blessings arrive.” In this instance, the peach has a cleft, giving it a heart-shaped (xin 心) appearance. Thus the peach symbolizes a person’s heart. The fungus (lingzhi 靈芝) is a pun for “intelligence” (ling 靈).
  
  Note:
  The heart symbolization is emphasized by the overall carving which, besides depicting a tree trunk, also closely resembles the human heart-shape, adding a different layer to the overall quality of the piece. The symbolism is especially expressed when held against the light (see photo 2 and 4) whereby the natural veining and inclusions of the stone become beautifully visible.
  
  Ref:
  Compare with other carvings bearing close resemblance, but of red and white agate:
  National Palace Museum Taipei, image number K1D000778N000000000PAB
  The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, accession Number: 02.18.868
  Sotheby’s New York, 28 September 2021, lot 846
  Christie’s New York, 23-24 Mar 2023, lot 1284
  Bonhams London, 23 September 2015, lot 269
  
  Lit:
  Bartholomew, Terese Tse - Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art p. 26, nr. 1.1.16
  
  Dimensions:
  Height 7.8 cm, width 9.5 cm, depth 5.5 cm.
  
  Condition:
  A small chip to the base rim and one peach broken off.
  
  Inv. No: MW50
• About the artist

  It might happen that an artist or maker is unknown.

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  •“Manner of ….” In their opinion a work in the style of the artist but of a later date

  •“After ….” In their opinion a copy (of any date) of a work of the artist

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