A SHADOW AGATE 'HORSE AND MONKEY' SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. Well hollowed, of rounded square form, rising from an oval foot to a straight neck with concave lip, the honey-brown inclusion carved on one side with a horse tethered to a post, a monkey perched on its back, the details finely incised, the reverse plain to highlight the fine markings of the stone. The translucent stone of a creamy pale-honey color with bands and shadings of amber as well as dark inclusions.

Provenance: Millon Jutheau, Paris, 24 April 1983, lot 167. French private collection, by repute acquired from the above (invoice lost). Thence by descent within the family to the last owner.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear, minuscule nibbling to mouth and rim.

Stopper: Coral with metal fitting, the cabochon showing some cracks
Weight: 145.6 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 87 mm. Diameter neck 28 mm and mouth 9 mm

Monkeys and horses are popular motifs in Chinese art. Shown together they symbolize the wish for immediate success, whereas a horse tethered to a post forms a common rebus which expresses a wish for speedy promotion of young candidates.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 14 September 2010, lot 148
Price: USD 6,250 or approx. EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An agate snuff bottle



1750-1850年影子“馬上封侯”影子鼻烟壺
中國。掏膛良好，直頸，寬壺口，壺身呈扁圓形，橢圓形圈足。巧妙利用栗色影子紋理雕刻一匹馬，馬上站立著一隻猴子，寓意“馬上封侯”。淺蜜色半透明石料，帶有琥珀色的條紋和陰影以及深色內沁。

來源：1983年4月23日巴黎Jutheau拍賣行 lot 167；法國私人收藏，據説購於上述拍賣（發票遺失）；在同一家族保存至今。
品相：品相極好，有輕微磨損，壺口和邊緣有微小的磕損。

壺蓋：珊瑚，局部開片，金屬鑲嵌
重量：145.6 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）87 毫米，頸部直徑28 毫米及壺口直徑9 毫米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2010年9月14日，lot 148
價格：USD 6,250（相當於今日EUR 8,000）
描述：瑪瑙鼻烟壺