A well-carved grey and white jade snuff bottle, 1750-1850. Estimate $12,000 – $18,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

One side is carved in relief with an eagle perched on the branch of a pine tree above the sun rising from waves, and the reverse is carved with a pair of egrets, each standing on one leg in a pond amidst the flowers and leaves of lotus plants. 2 ½ in. (6.5 cm.) high, glass stopper

Provenance: Robert Hall, London, 2009.
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2009.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 4911.

Notes: The carver of this bottle has skillfully used the white shadings of the stone to different effects on either side. Particularly evocative is the manner in which the whitish-tone is used on the main side to create the effect of foamy mist rising from the waves. The scenes on both sides are laden with symbolism. The motif of an eagle standing on one leg, with sun and pine tree imparts several symbolic meanings. An eagle (ying) perched on one leg (duli) is a rebus for the phraseyingxiong duli (A great man towers over his peers). The imagery evokes ideals of courage, loyalty and the ability to achieve great things. The combination of an eagle and a pine tree conveys a wish that such a great man will live a long life. An (yi) egret (lusi) together with green (qing) lotus (lian) constitute the rebus: "[May you be] incorruptible throughout [your career] (yilu qinglian)." The single egret with the lotus seeds also means "[May you win] the top places in the successive examinations (yilu lianke)."

Christie's. THE RUTH AND CARL BARRON COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES: PART I, 16 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza