Title
Ivory stand
Year/Period
First half of 20th century
Region
China
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Object size: 20.8 x 9.2 x 9.2 cm,
Object size: Refer to parts
Object size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
2019-00397
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of the Tye family, direct descendants of Tye Kee Yoon 戴喜云, Vice Consul of China in Penang and Lew Yuk Lin 刘玉麟， Minister of the Republic of China to London.
Meticulously carved puzzle balls were fashioned from one block of ivory into concentric layers. Puzzle ball carving became extremely sophisticated in the Qing dynasty, particularly in Canton, where they were made for tribute and export. These intricate objects fascinated foreigners and were popular souvenirs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The carved decoration of the stand is segmented and features a miniature puzzle ball set atop a figural group, which in turn rests on a circular base carved with scrolling foliage.
