A LARGE CARNELIAN AGATE SANDUO VASE 19th century (2)

A LARGE CARNELIAN AGATE 'SANDUO' VASE 19th century Naturalistically carved using the milky-white portion of the stone as two curved hollowed tree trunks forming the vase with incised knotted tree bark, issuing a gnarled bough bearing large and small finger citrons beside, the vermilion-red part of the stone skilfully fashioned into fruiting branches of pomegranate and peach on the exterior forming the sanduo (Three Abundances), all beside an auspicious phoenix, with green-stained carved bone and wood stand. 19cm (7 1/2in) wide. (2). Footnotes: 十九世紀 南紅瑪瑙「三多」花插 The Buddha's Hand citron, which can be interchangeable with other citrons, together with the peach and pomegranate, are known collectively as 'The Three Abundances' ( sanduo 三多), which express the wish for abundant blessings, long life, and many sons. Vases with this motif were often enjoyed at the Imperial Court and made of various other materials, see for example a related vase of similar design but made of beeswax, Qing dynasty, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study , Shenzhen, 2009, no.331; carnelian agate vases but of fish design are also illustrated in Ibid ., no.334. See a related carnelian agate ' sanduo ' vase, 18th century, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30 November 2017, lot 362. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the EU, see clause 13. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com