Set of Concentric Ivory 
Balls  with  Open-work 
Carving
Ch'ing Dynasty (A.D. 1644-
1911)
Height:             54.8cm
Diameter:         11.7cm
     A  single  piece  of 
ivory is ingeniously carved 
into twenty-one moveable 
concentric balls. Each ball 
is carved with openwork 
designs; the outermost ball 
is most ornately carved with 
dragons and cloud patterns. 
The balls rest on a tall and 
slender ivory stand, which is 
equally ornate and skillfully 
carved.   As   part   of   the
stand's  decoration  there is
another    set    of    small 
concentric balls.