144 - Hornbill-beak snuffbox decorated with goats and geese, China, late 19th–early 20th century

Hornbill-beak snuffbox decorated with goats and geese, China, late 19th–early 20th century Flattened ovoid in shape, with one side carved with a group of three goats near a tree beneath a red sun emerging from the clouds, and the other side depicting three geese with their keeper in front of a walkway and bamboo. The fur, feathers, and sun’s rays are incised and highlighted in black. Each shoulder is carved from the naturally red portion of the horn into the form of a fierce Buddhist lion’s head and a ruyi-shaped ring. The sun and the three protrusions on the geese’s beaks are embellished with inlays of small pieces of red hornbill beak. The base is oval. Stopper made of green jadeite. Height: 5 cm; gross weight: 21 g Provenance: - Robert Kleiner, London 1997. - Phillip Allen Collection. This design combines the traditional “Sanyang Kaitai” rebus of the three goats—a symbol of prosperity and renewal—with the three wild geese, symbolizing loyalty and harmony.