China, 19th century. Neatly carved and incised in high relief to depict a mystic mountainous landscape with scattered pavilions and pagodas amid massive rock formations and trees of all kinds. At the center of all this we eventually find a minuscule fisherman in his boat and a wayfarer crossing a bridge. A nice allegory about the dwarfishness and, ultimately, insignificance of mankind compared to Mother Nature.
Condition: Good original condition with a good unctuous patina, some old wear and a few tiny age cracks. Provenance: From an English private collection acquired prior to 1950 and thence by descent. With remainders of an old paper label to the base.