S21 A smoky quartz “Monkey riding the ox” snuff bottle

Description

Description:  Chinese smoky quartz snuff bottle of well finished round flattened shape, with everted neck and concave mouth, carved with a monkey riding an ox, or a water buffalo, and a sage nearby observing the scene. A landscape with houses and a willow on the other side. Although the “boy riding an ox” and “monkey riding an horse” are two well-known motifs, no references has been found about monkey riding the ox.

Foot/base:  Concave base

Mark:  

Dating:  19^th Century.

Material:  Smoky quartz

Size:  74 mm high

Stopper:  Grey jade with bone collar and ivory spoon.

Provenance:  Mario Dalmazzo collection

References:

Notes:  About Mario Dalmazzo collection, see Provenance of the ceramic snuff bottle C8.