Chinese Qing Dynasty porcelain snuff bottle, finely potted into a model of cicada. Painted in natural color underglazes. Liberating effect of this sculpture displays the master artist's creativity, which gave a spontaneity to transform the composition into a highly suggestive vision of subject in nature. The lid simulated the left eye. Displayed upon a carved hardwood stand in foliate motif. A cicada has two life cycles. The first is spent in the ground as a larva after which it becomes a pupa. The second phase begins when the pupa splits open and the cicada emerges, as we know it from the ground. Observations of this gave birth to the belief that the cicada was reborn and rose from the dead. During the earliest dynasties it was the custom to place a cicada made of jade with the deceased to bring them immortality.
As an emblem of immortality and resurrection the cicada often appeared on birthday gifts in China, representing wishes for the recipient's longevity.

Dimension: 33.5mm H x 76.5mm L

MISSING the stopper/lid (one eye), Otherwise over all in EXCELLENT condition.


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