A finely carved ivory wristrest Qing dynasty, 18th / 19th century

intricately carved to the curved interior with small frogs, crabs, shrimp and a salamander dispersed amongst waterweeds naturalistically carved with slender leaves entwined around a leafy floral sprig, the reverse carved in low relief with birds in flight amongst prunus and bamboo sprays, wood stand (2)

A certain vogue for superbly carved ivory wristrests with elaborately carved undersides seems to have been initiated by the Qing Palace workshops, and the exquisite carving of the present pieces is a testament to the technical virtuosity of the ivory carvers during this period. 

The skillful and naturalistic carving of the present piece closely recalls one in The Cleveland Museum, illustrated in Chinese Ivories from the Shang to the Qing, London, 1984, no. 152, p. 139.  See also one from the Mary and George Bloch collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 113.