Perfume Bottle Depicting Fat Chinese Man

Round-faced and cheerful, he wears a brown stopper like a tiny hat.

This carved rock crystal perfume bottle depicting a fat Chinese man is from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. Round, laughing figures are a familiar subject in Chinese art, where they are often associated with good fortune and a generous nature. Translucent, misty material forms a plump standing body with a broad smile and rope-like drapery over the chest. A dark collar and glossy brown stopper crown the head, and the lower robe is softly worn. It is 1.5 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 2.5 high.

Contentment, carved thick and held up to the light.