China, 1644-1912. Finely modeled as a bat with outstretched wings, one arm raised and the other lowered, the bat's wings outstretched, the animal well detailed with black eyes, funnel-shaped ears, and pointed nose, its fur finely enameled to a grayish-brown color with the claws and the tendon of its wings enameled white. The back with a circular aperture at the arched top.

Provenance: From the estate of Phillip Allen (1938-2022), who was a widely respected collector and expert of Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as a director of the Oriental Ceramic Society for many years. He co-authored and edited several exhibition catalogues for the OCS and was best known as the cataloguer of the Sir Victor Sassoon collection of Chinese ivories in the British Museum.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, and firing flaws, few short hairlines.

Weight: 363.6 g
Dimensions: Width 23.2 cm