169. PETIT COMPTE-GOUTTES ARCHAÏSANT EN BRONZE INCRUSTÉ D'ARGENT XVIIe/XVIIIe siècle A SILVER-INLAID BRONZE WATERDROPPER 17th/18th century Naturalistically cast in the form of a tortoise resting on all four legs, the top of the the high, domed carapace with a small aperture, with a wide tail on one end, and a small head turned upwards and with a small aperture, with silver-inlaid details. 11.5cm (4 1/2in) long 十七/十八世紀 銅錯銀龜形水滴 Provenance: Collection of Joachim Schlotterbeck (1926-2007), acquired from a German noble family collection (by repute), acquired in 2001 from his collection 來源： Joachim Schlotterbeck（1926-2007）珍藏，得自德國貴族家族珍藏（傳） 現藏家於2001年得自上述來源 Few animals have enjoyed such popularity in China as the tortoise. One of the four directional animals known for its legendary longevity, its resilience to survive harsh winters alluded to its tenacious nature, as noted by Michael Goedhuis, Chinese and Japanese Bronzes A.D. 1100-1900, London, 1989, no.38, where a very similar water dropper is illustrated. Compare also two further examples, the first sold in Christie's London, 10 March 1980, lot 92, the second in Sotheby's Hong Kong, 14 November 1990, lot 427.