1760-1850

The carp struggling upstream symbolizes the aspirations of the scholar, a theme enhanced by the striking patches of icy white that contrast with the deep orange-red stone. The source of the stone was likely Xingjiang. The region was added to the Chinese Empire by the Qianlong Emperor in 1759. It is at times referred to as "torch agate" for it's bold fire-like reds. For further discussion on Xinjiang agate see Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, Vol. 2, Part 2, Quartz, Hong Kong, 1998, p. 433, no. 339. Another bottle carved from the same material was sold at Christie's New York, The Hildegard Schonfeld Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, 21 March 2013, lot 1042.