20th century, a delicate carved urn with cover decorated in high relief with double dragons chasing a flaming pearl amid swirling clouds on one side and a dragon with phoenix to reverse side, fitted cover is surmounted by a dragon, the delicate chain is joined at the top with a pair of dragons, a flaming encased pearl suspends elegantly underneath the pair, with a fitted carved wooden stand.

HOA 20.75 in., Vase and chain only 15 in.

From the Estate of the Late Dr. Joan C. Huntley, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Sold to Benefit Art Acquisitions at Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina

Dr. Joan C. Huntley was a lifelong patron of the arts and one of the leading collectors of eighteenth and nineteenth century European Painting in North Carolina. Joan and her late husband, Dr. Robert R. Huntley, established the Huntley Gallery at the North Carolina Museum of Art that housed Barbizon paintings they donated to the Museum, just one example of their devoted patronage to museums throughout the State. Joan served on the North Carolina Museum of Art Board of Trustees, and she was a founding member of the Davidson College Art Collection Advisory Committee. Joan established much of her collection during travels to New York, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Padua, Italy, where she visited every spring. 

Slight chip to mouth rim and to foot rim of urn; very minor wear to wooden stand.