Cup, two handles, with internally carved flower at the bottom, translucent pale grey to beige agate, probably China, 18th or 19th century

A cup of inverted and truncated conical form with two matching, curved handles with the outer side formed of two concave faces. It has a shallow, recessed base/foot and the interior is decorated with a flower carved in relief to the base. Carved and polished in one piece from translucent, very pale grey/beige agate.

Wells Bequest

This cup was most probably fashioned in China in the 18th or 19th century and it was acquired by Arthur Wells who was a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and was made a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered to be the first private British collector of Chinese jade and his collection of jade and other hardstone objects from South Asia was on exhibition at the South Kensington Museum at the time of his death in 1882. This collection was left to the museum in his will - the Wells Bequest.

This agate cup was most probably fashioned in China in the 18th or 19th century. It has been fashioned from translucent agate that has attractive markings and the workmanship is of a reasonably high standard.

1590-1882