A Soapstone Bottle Stopper - Shi Shi
September 2013 Auction by Far East Asian Art

This is a fun little soapstone bottle stopper in the shape of a shi shi - nicely carved. We believe it is a Chinese piece from the way the shi shi is carved and because the Chinese use soapstone as a carving medium more often than the Japanese. The stopper measures 2 1/2" high and is 1" diameter. Fine condition. We date it anytime between the 1920s and 1950s.