China, 1740-1820 Both of flattened, ovoid form The red one with swirly orange and yellow tones in imitation of realgar, with a moonstone lid The darker one with swirly orange, brown and black tones, with a jade lid 7cm high 113g >> Both in very good condition, no chips or cracks Provenance: Private collection, Singapore, acquired in the 70s; and thence by descent to the present owner Note: The Chinese name for realgar is xionghuang ??, literally 'masculine yellow'. Its toxicity was also well known to them, and it was frequently sprinkled around houses to repel snakes and insects, as well as being used in Chinese medicine