A CHALCEDONY SHADOW AGATE 'BATS AND GOURD' SNUFF BOTTLE 18th/19th century Of rounded rectangular shape, the body supported on a short oval foot ring and below a cylindrical neck, the cloudy honey-coloured stone marked with darker inclusions carved to depict five bats fluttering out of a vine-grown gourd, a finely detailed bat carved on the reverse, stopper. 5.7cm (2 1/4in) high. (2). Footnotes: The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.Y6TYX1RB 該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》（章節10）註冊Ref.Y6TYX1RB 十八/十九世紀 瑪瑙巧雕福祿紋鼻煙壺 Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd., London Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.B42, acquired from the above circa 1974 來源：倫敦古董商Hugh Moss Ltd. Trudy及John Cohen伉儷，藏品編號B42，約1974年從上處獲得 The bat (fu 蝠) is widely used in Chinese art as a visual pun on its homophone fu (福) meaning riches or good fortune. A group of five bats therefore traditionally represents the 'Five Blessings': longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue, and a peaceful death. The double gourd likewise carries strong auspicious associations, symbolising long life and good health, partly because of its connection to chemists and the belief that it could ward off evil spirits and disease. Its many seeds also make it a symbol of abundance and fertility. When combined, the double gourd and five bats form an emphatically auspicious motif, with layered wishes for prosperity, well-being and many offspring. The gourd's association with the Daoist Immortal Li Tieguai (李鐵拐), who carried a gourd containing spiritual powers, further reinforces this meaning. In some depictions, vapours issuing from his gourd suggests the release of beneficent forces; thus, the image of the five bats emerging from the double gourd in the present lot becomes an active visual metaphor, where blessings are not merely present, but released and bestowed upon the owner of the bottle. Another agate snuff bottle featuring five bats and a double gourd, 18th/19th century, is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei (acc.no.故雜001129) and is illustrated in Lifting the Spirit and Body: The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, Taipei, 2012, p.233, no.IV-009. See a related shadow agate snuff bottle of the same subject, 1750-1860 and attributed to the 'Official School', which was sold at Bonhams New York, 15 September 2025, lot 188. 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