119 - Snuffbox made of gray and brown nephrite, decorated with motifs symbolizing a wish for long life, China, 1750–1850

Snuffbox made of gray and brown nephrite, decorated with motifs symbolizing a wish for long life, China, 1750–1850 Rectangular in shape with rounded shoulders, the brown side is carved with two Taoist figures, one holding a bamboo staff, standing on a rocky promontory above the waves from which the sun rises, exhaling clouds upon which a pavilion rests. In the sky, a flying crane holds a stick in its beak. The scene is flanked by two large rocks. The undecorated reverse side is made of gray nephrite. Oval foot. Turquoise stopper. Height: 6 cm This motif is called Haiwu Tianchou - 海屋添籌 - “adding a longevity stick to the House of the Sea,” and refers to a legend according to which every human being’s lifespan is predetermined by a jar containing bamboo sticks, kept in the “House of the Sea,” located in Penglai (the mythical land of the Immortals of the East Sea in Chinese mythology). If a crane adds a stick to a person’s vial, that person’s life is extended by one hundred years. Since the expression “to add a stick” (tianchou - 添籌) is a homophone for “to add longevity” (tianshou - 添壽), “Haiwu Tianshou” is a traditional phrase used to wish someone a long life.