WINTER EXHIBITION 2008 - Roger Keverne

124 ROGER KEVERNE WINTER 2008
98
A banded agate brush washer
18th century
Length: 3 in, 7.6 cm
in the form of two pomegranates borne on
a leafy stem. One fruit is hollowed, to form
the washer, and split to reveal its seeds. The
stone varies in tone from white through to
deep amber-brown, with some areas of the
natural, unpolished surface remaining,
mainly to the base.
A split pomegranate represents the rebus
Liukai baizi (a wish for numerous sons).
99
A fine and rare carnelian ram
18th century
Length: 2D in, 5.7 cm
in a recumbent posture with finely incised
eyes, long, twisting horns, a short, puffy
tail, and legs and hooves tucked neatly
beneath it. The animal breathes out a cloud
of qi from which a yin–yang symbol
emerges; further clouds are carved in high
relief to the back. The clouds are worked
from the red areas of the stone and the ram
from the white.
This subject is, of course, well known in
jade, but rare in carnelian.