Lot 085 A RARE AND FINELY CARVED IVORY ‘BOYS AT PLAY’ SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Description

A RARE AND FINELY CARVED IVORY ‘BOYS AT PLAY’ SNUFF BOTTLE
QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
清十九世纪 象牙高浮雕“婴戏图”鼻烟壶
MEASUREMENTS
H. 9.2 cm, 3.6 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 600 — 800
The snuff bottle is intricately carved from a solid piece of ivory, featuring an elegant, elongated ovoid body that tapers to a neatly finished oval foot. The exterior is decorated in high relief with two distinct narrative panels framed by decorative “ruyi” borders at the shoulders. One side depicts a spirited scene of a young boy holding a lotus sprig beneath the sweeping branches of a willow tree, symbolizing harmony and the wish for continuous offspring. The reverse shows a child in a garden landscape, possibly engaged in catching butterflies or picking flowers, rendered with charming detail and expressive movement. The vertical edges of the bottle are embellished with a sophisticated geometric “diamond-and-square” diaper pattern, providing a sharp contrast to the organic fluid lines of the central figures. The ivory possesses a mellow, creamy-white patina with subtle cross-hatching grain and natural age-related fissures on the base, characteristic of authentic antique material. The bottle is completed with its original domed cover, delicately carved with petal motifs and a small bud-shaped finial.
此鼻烟壶选用上乘象牙为材，形制规整，比例匀称。壶身采用高浮雕技法，通体雕琢精美。正面展现“童子戏莲”图：一灵动童子手持莲花，在垂柳之下嬉戏，寓意“连生贵子”及生活和美。背面则描绘童子在园林山石间玩耍之态，人物神情憨态可掬，动作自然生动。壶侧别具匠心，雕刻规整的几何菱格纹（锦地纹），与开光内生动的人物场景形成虚实对比，增加了器物的层次感。牙质细密温润，包浆自然，底部可见象牙特有的施氏线及自然形成的干裂痕迹，尽显古朴韵味。配以原装盖钮，雕刻仰莲纹，整体艺术风格统一，是一件难得的清代牙雕精品。
The “Boys at Play” (Yingxi) motif has been a beloved theme in Chinese decorative arts since the Song Dynasty, representing the Confucian ideal of a thriving family lineage and a joyful, prosperous future. This specific bottle, standing at 9.2 cm, is an unusually large and impressive example of 19th-century ivory carving. The combination of high-relief figurative work with the precise geometric diaper pattern on the sides suggests the hand of a master carver, likely from the Cantonese workshops which were renowned for such intricate, multi-layered ivory work. The preservation of the original cover and spoon further enhances its collectible value. The tactile quality of the ivory, coupled with the auspicious symbolism of the lotus-bearing child, makes this bottle a quintessentially scholarly object that balances technical virtuosity with traditional cultural aspirations.
“婴戏图”是中国传统艺术中的经典题材，寄托了古人对子孙满堂、祥瑞和平的追求。此件鼻烟壶高度达9.2厘米，体量较普通烟壶更为硕大，不仅可供赏玩，更是案头陈设的佳品。其侧面的锦地纹装饰与生动的人物浮雕相结合，反映了清代晚期粤派牙雕工艺追求繁缛精细、工整严谨的艺术特色。莲花在传统语境中兼具“纯洁”与“连发”之意，与童子形象结合，更是清代文人雅士心头之好。此器保存状态良好，原盖未失，展现了晚清时期高超的微缩雕刻水平。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: In overall excellent condition. The relief carving is remarkably well-preserved with no major losses or chips. The surface shows a beautiful natural patina and very fine, age-appropriate shrinkage lines (laughter lines) visible on the base and shoulder. The geometric borders remain crisp.
• 状况: 整体品相极佳。高浮雕部分保存完好，未见明显缺损。牙质表面包浆莹润，底足及肩部见自然细微的缩纹（笑纹），符合时代特征。侧边几何纹饰棱角分明，原装盖纽配合严密，整体保存状况非常理想。