A CHALCEDONY AGATE 'SQUIRREL AND GRAPES' SNUFF BOTTLE 18th/19th century The body with a rounded rectangular outline, the stone of a rich honey hue with lighter areas, exhibiting an opaque cream skin expertly carved in relief to depict a nimble squirrel climbing a grape-laden vine with a small crane flying in the distance, the fur and veins of the leaves finely incised, the reverse uncarved, stopper. 6.4cm (2 1/2in) high. (2). Footnotes: 十八/十九世紀 瑪瑙巧雕松鼠葡萄紋鼻烟壺 Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd., London Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.B51, 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B51，約1974年從上處獲得 The image of squirrels frolicking among grapevines conveys an auspicious wish for a prosperous family. Grapes, with their abundant clusters, symbolise fertility and the wish for many descendants, while squirrels embody vitality, agility, and resourcefulness. The motif gained prominence during the Ming dynasty, as seen in works such as Squirrel on a Grapevine (葡萄松鼠) by Zhou Zhimian (周之冕, 1521-?), now in the Palace Museum, Taipei. By the Qing dynasty, the motif was widespread on a variety of objects, including those commissioned by the Court. Making deft use of the pale inclusion at the upper right of the present lot, the carver has introduced a crane, another symbol of longevity, further enriching the bottle's auspicious meaning. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * Y * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing