Vintage Pretty Soapstone Carving with Plum BlossomsThis soapstone carving has striking looks on account of the contrasting colors of beige and black. The ease of carving soapstone, a rock with a low number measuring hardness is easy to carve. The artist took the best advantage of the variation of colors to produce this pretty carving. Soapstone carving is one the staple in Chinese arts and crafts. This is a rather beautiful piece. Dimensions: 6. 5 inches wide, 2 inches deep and 4. 5 inches high

the body was pushed in two places leaving the rounded side for the application of the two figures

75 inches deep and 3 inches high

The pretty moss agate snuff bottle has a good looking flattened round shape and is well hollowed

the original work was once attached to a larger unit

The form of this vase is a take off from Chinese ritual bronzes

Whether this is truly Han Gaozu's portrait is up to the imagination of the inside snuff bottle painter

A pair of doors flanks a large opening

Tsang in his article published in the Journal of the International Snuff Bottle Society

it has been suggested that since there is hardware on the top they could be carriers for oil containers used by a lamp lighter on his rounds

but the artist carver took liberty and gave her a basket turned upside down with flowers falling in the same sweeping motion as her sleeves

The best seraphinite comes from Lake Baikal in Russia

The opening is wide and the inside well hollowed