A Massive Chinese Ivory Vase and Cover 19th century

A Massive Chinese Ivory Vase and Cover 19th century, 41cm. Elaborately carved with two large panels to the ovoid body, decorated with numerous small figures in rocky mountain landscapes and with Immortals standing upon clouds, the body and cover with smaller panels and with four loose ring handles from the neck and sides, the cover with a single lion dog finial. (2) Provenance Sir Kenneth Dugald Stewart Bt (1882-1972) and thence by descent. The vase was purchased in Shanghai by Sir Kenneth during his stay in China from 1902-1919 when working as a representative for Stewart Thompson and Son, Manchester cotton merchants. Sir Kenneth returned to China from 1925-27 when he represented the British Foreign Office as Chief British delegate at an International Customs Conference. For a similar vase and cover with four ring handles and a lion dog finial, see Selected Ivory Carvings from the Sir Victor Sassoon Chinese Ivories Trust, a loan exhibition, November 1999, no. 38.