1720-1800

This bottle belongs to the group discussed under lot 32 where further information and other examples are cited. The present bottle is one of the more spectacular examples because of the masterful use of the lovely and unusual natural material with its variegated red, grey and white coloring. The carver of this extraordinary bottle has used the colors in the material in an inspired manner to give the impression of great turmoil, as a series of watery creatures entwine together in turbulent waters. What appears to be confusion at first glance turns out to be an example of extraordinary technical and formal control in which every nuance of color is used to maximum advantage. It unquestionably ranks among the masterpieces of the medium.
Carp (liyu), including fan-tailed goldfish, stand for profits (li) or prosperity. Toads (chan) are a pun on the character qian (money), and in this case, reinforce the wish for wealth.