A FINE CHALCEDONY AGATE 'PAIR OF BADGERS' PENDANT Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century Deftly carved as a pair of badgers facing each other, each grasping one end of a lingzhi fungus stem in its month, the stone of a semi-opaque tone accented with red-vermillion patches, with a banded agate bead and seed pearls attached to the pendant string. 4.9cm long Footnotes: 清十八/十九世紀 瑪瑙巧雕「如意雙歡」珮 Provenance: George A. Cohen, and thence by descent Trudy and John Cohen, collection no.P59 Published and Illustrated: George A. Cohen, In Search of Netsuke and Inro, Birmingham, 1974, no.320 來源： George A. Cohen，後由家族傳承 Trudy 及 John Cohen，收藏編號P59 出版及著錄： George A. Cohen，《In Search of Netsuke and Inro》，伯明翰，1974年，編號320 The badger, celebrated for its alertness and loyalty, frequently appears in pairs in Chinese art forms. Notably, the word for 'badger' 獾 huan is a homophone for 'joy' 歡 huan, and thus the depiction of double-badger as featured in the present lot symbolises 'conjugal joy.' This imagery serves as a profound metaphor, signifying not only the harmonious and blissful union of a loving couple but also the enduring happiness and longevity cherished by parents in their later years. The inclusion of the lingzhi fungus, also known as ruyi (as desire), further elevates the auspicious meaning of this piece, symbolising 'good fortune' and longevity. A related white jade 'double-badger' group, 18th/19th century, is illustrated in Virtuous Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar's Table, Hong Kong, 2007, p.179, no.103. See also a related agate 'double-badger' pendant, 18th/19th century, which was sold in our London rooms, 12 May 2022, lot 39. 獾機警、忠誠，在中國傳統藝術中經常被描繪成對。「獾」與「歡」諧音，此玉雕上的兩隻獾寓意「合獾」，多用以祝福父母長壽，安享晚年，也代表夫婦和順。靈芝象徵長壽，為玉珮增添吉祥福壽之寓意。 參考一件十八/十九世紀白玉雙獾，著錄於《閣有天珍：中國文房玉雕》，香港，2007年，頁179，編號103。又可參考一件十八/十九世紀瑪瑙雕雙獾佩，售於倫敦邦瀚斯，2022年5月12日，拍品編號39。 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing