A LARGE MOLDED AND ENAMELED PORCELAIN 'LEAPING CARP' SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTYChina, 19th century. Finely molded and painted in bright enamels as a large fish with raised scales emerging from crashing waves forming the oval base, its mouth forming the neck of the bottle.Provenance: French private collection. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing flaws.Stopper: Amber with black collar and metal spoon Weight: 58.5 gDimensions: Height including stopper 103 mm. Diameter neck 15 mm and mouth 7 mmFish appeared as decoration on Chinese ceramics as early as the Neolithic period, and have remained a popular theme in Chinese art, especially ceramics and paintings, ever since. Vessels made in the form of fish, especially two confronted fish, were popular during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907) and again in the 18th century. Much of the popularity of fish as a decorative theme, especially in later dynasties, hinges on the fact that the word for fish (yu) is a homophone for the word for abundance, and the word for carp (li) a homophone for the word for profit.清代琺琅彩鯉魚形鼻烟壺 中國,十九世紀。精細塑造成一條大鯉魚,明亮的琺瑯彩,尾部是浪花,鱗片分明,其嘴部形成瓶子的頸部。 來源:法國私人收藏 品相:狀況極佳,有輕微磨損和燒傷缺陷 壺蓋:琥珀,黑色蓋托,金屬小壺匙 重量:58.5 克 尺寸:含蓋總高103 毫米,頸部直徑15 毫米,嘴部直徑7 毫米