Vintage Ruby in Zoisite Bottle With Liu Hai and the Three Legged Toad

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The story of Liu Hai, a Daoist Immortal and the Three Legged Toad is a popular folk tale, all due … Read more The story of Liu Hai, a Daoist Immortal and the Three Legged Toad is a popular folk tale, all due to the symbolism related to money. Liu Hai, often portrays as a young jovial boy has a three legged toad as a pet. The toad would escape once in a while but it always returns when it hears the jingling of coins. The snuff bottle carver was very clever with his depiction. The toad was carved from the only ruby in the grden and black zoisite stone, and Liu Hai's coin was tied to the flying scarf or ribbon over his head.

The snuff bottle is of a flatted oblong form ending in an oval base with a short foot ring with the ruby toad stretched out in all three feet protruding at the base. The top is flat and the cap is of the same zoisite material sitting on a white disc.

Ruby in Zoisite is also known as Ruby Zoisite or Anyolite is a natural combination of stones found only in northeast Tanzania in East Africa. It became a material for stone snuff bottles when the pretty rocks were brought back by Chinese traders when trade was encouraged between China and Africa after China became the People Republic of China.

Dating: after 1970

Dimensions: 1.5 inches wide, 0.5 inches deep and 2.75 inches high

Condition: good, the neck is not as smooth as the older bottles but it is not chipped See less