A CHALCEDONY SHADOW AGATE 'EGRET' SNUFF BOTTLE 18th/19th century The body of rounded square form below a cylindrical neck and supported on a base surrounded by an oval foot ring, the translucent stone marked with darker inclusions, the central one cleverly carved to depict a single egret with its neck stretched as it glances back, a sprig held in its beak, the reverse uncarved, stopper. 5.4cm (2 1/8in) high. (2). Footnotes: The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.Z12C6EWV 該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》（章節10）註冊Ref.Z12C6EWV 十八/十九世紀 瑪瑙巧雕鷺鷥圖鼻煙壺 Provenance: Susan Lapidus (1941-2008) collection Hugh Moss Ltd., London Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.B40, acquired from the above circa 1974 來源：Susan Lapidus (1941-2008) 舊藏 倫敦古董商Hugh Moss Ltd. Trudy及John Cohen伉儷，藏品編號B40，約1974年從上處獲得 The dark marking in the present lot is minimally carved to suggest a bird, possibly a small egret as indicated by the plumes on its nape. In Chinese art, the egret (lu 鷺) serves as a visual pun for its homophone lu (祿), meaning an official's salary, making the bottle an especially auspicious gift for someone preparing to sit the Civil Examinations. Compare with a shadow agate snuff bottle similarly carved with a single bird looking back, 1780-1880, which was sold at Christie's New York, 15 March 2017, lot 411. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Ф Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13. Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory and cannot be imported into the USA or any country within the EU. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing