Cut Agate Cup From Chilong, Lingzhi And Fenghuang. China 18th Century.

Agate cup of a beautiful yellow and amber color. Decorated in hight relief of Chilong, Lingzhi and Fenghuang (dragon, mushrooms and Phoenix) with highly symbolic value, in fact the male principle chilong and the female fenghuang should signify a marriage, the presence of immortal Lingzhi making the union eternal. The artist used a part of the stone which is different, naturally spotted and cracked to carve the Chilong which is thus subtly spotted like a leopard. However, this part of the less solid stone has defects, cracks and slight gaps. At the bottom, a Lingzhi was added to fill a hole which made the cup unusable. This old lingzhi is held in place by lacquer. It is possible that it is original, because if we observe the inside of the cut we see that the hole appears right at the location of the recess grinding. I think the artist went too far and pierced the bottom. He pasted the Lingzhi to repair his mistake. Chinese work from the 18th century. A broken Fenghuang wing tip. Cracks and alterations in the stone at the Chilong level. Late wooden base. 119x67mm