Snuff Bottle – Jade – Double Gourd, Cicade and Rat – China – Qing Dynastie (1644-1911)

A rare and very nicely carved green (untested) jade late Qing snuff bottle shaped as a double gourd. The gourd is flanked by carved cicadas in contrasting russet color and is topped by a rat. The backside shows another smaller gourd, leafs and vines. The original stopper is also made of contrasted russet colored jade and has thread cut into it. Which is a rather rare feature in Jade. This snuff bottle conveys a rather strong auspicious message: A wish for longevity, immortality and fertility. The cicada is associated in Chinese mythology with immortality and rebirth. It undergoes a remarkable transformation, emerging from the ground after a long period of dormancy. This process symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, making it a powerful representation of eternal life. Rats have a strong reproductive ability and are often used as symbols of fertility in popular culture. When paired with multi-seeded plants such as gourds, grapes, and pomegranates, they form auspicious patterns that reinforce the desire for offspring. In China, gourds are associated with fertility rites, harmonious marriage, and parenthood. The Chinese term for gourd, "Fu Lu" (福禄), sounds like the words for fortune and wealth. Additionally, gourd seeds symbolize fertility.... lees verder bij Catawiki