Title
Ivory stand
Year/Period
First half of 20th century
Region
China
Object Type
Material
Technique
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.
This was the stand for an ivory puzzle ball (which would have originally been placed on the top but is now lost). 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. Meticulously and delicately carved Chinese ivory puzzle balls, with their multiple concentric layers that could rotate, greatly fascinated foreigners. They were a popular Chinese souvenir item in 19th-century Europe.
