Perfumer China, 19th centuryJade NephriteMeasures: 14 x 13 x 6 cm.Chinese prismatic perfumer, raised on an oval base and with the central body in a slope. It has a successful bas-relief decoration representing geometric motifs that allude to mythical animals. The main body is flanked by large openwork zoomorphic motifs from which hang rings. The upper body is topped by the figure of a Foo dog. Overall, the piece is inspired by ancient Bronze Age ritual vessels, one of China's oldest artistic manifestations. Jade is the type of hard stone most used and appreciated in China since the Neolithic period for the creation of sculptures. It is a material extraordinarily appreciated for its hardness, its resistance, its delicate shades ranging from green to pure white and its translucent quality. During the Han dynasty, for example, members of the high aristocracy and royalty were buried in jade receptacles, which, it was believed, would preserve body and soul for eternity. Jade also had various uses in medicine and alchemy.