Chinese soapstone carving is truly a Chinese art form. They are beautifully carved using the natural color striations of the stone to differentiate the subject matters they represent. Seldom do they show humor as this carving does. This carving is a combination of four containers - two vases tall and short at the back and on the foreground two vessels with wider mouths. Climbing all over are monkeys and birds. It is quite delightful. The carving is from a colorful stone that is beige, rust and brown. The artist carver planned his design carefully, so with the exception of one vase, the birds and monkeys as prime attraction, are all in beige so they stand out against the rust brown background.
Dating: post 1950's
Dimensions: 7 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep and 8.75 inches high
Condition: a small section of the mouth rim of the taller vase was broken and restored. The rest of the carving is in good condition,