223 - (R) AN INKWELL IN LOTUS LEAF SHAPE, AGATE, CHINA, 18TH TO 19TH CENTURY

(R) AN INKWELL IN LOTUS LEAF SHAPE, AGATE, CHINA, 18TH TO 19TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 2,5 cm Wide 10,5 cm Depth 8,5 cm Weight: 147 grams Carved as a shallow, undulating lotus leaf, this small agate vessel has a gently hollowed centre surrounded by an irregular, scalloped rim. Warm amber and grey tones mingle in the translucent stone, with deeper russet inclusions gathering near the outer edge. Incised veins and curling details suggest the natural movement of a leaf rather than the rigid outline of a conventional bowl. Lotus imagery carried associations of purity and cultivated refinement in Chinese visual culture. On a scholar's desk, a water vessel or shallow receptacle shaped as a leaf could combine practical use with a quiet reference to nature. Here the stone's colour variations are incorporated into the design, making the material itself an active part of the composition. For lots marked with (R), a 19% VAT is added to the combined hammer price and commission. This VAT is waived for: - Private buyers outside the EU who officially export the items.- Businesses inside the EU holding a valid VAT number, exporting to their home country. Proper export documentation is required to waive the VAT