Antique
Chinese Elephant Ivory Carving
Dragon Pearl Ball
5 Level Puzzle Balls
China.
Circa: early 1900S'
H 8 in.(20cm), W 2.75 in.(7cm), D 2.75 in.(7cm)
Ball: 3 in.(7.5cm) diameter
Condition: minor
crackline on plinth An
unusually well carved decorative puzzle ball with the outer two balls fused and
four freely moving small balls within the larger sphere. Cream ivory with a patina
of age, the base in openwork depicting birds and bamboo on a floral platform,
the ball held on a thin translucent cup atop a foliate column. Four three-toed
dragons writhe over the outer layer of the ball, entwined with swirling clouds.
Eyes of the birds and dragons are inlaid black coral; the surface nicely polished
from handling.
Private
Collection
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