Exceptional miniature carving made from the kernel of a ‘gânlan’ fruit which is a rather hard material. Even though the carving depicts four boys, we believe that two of them are the 'Heavenly Twins' (Hehe Erxian) because one has a box in front of him and the second one holds a lotus stem in his hands. Another boy raises a ‘Ruyi’ scepter which stands for ‘ Everything you wish for will be granted’ and the fourth boy carries a sign with the character Xi (喜) or Happiness in one hand and a Gourd (Blessings & Fertility) in the other. An upside down Bat represents the saying ‘Blessings have arrived’ and Clouds symbolize the ‘Granting of all wishes’. The boys dwell in a landscape with Houses (Good Fortune & Harmony with Nature), a Pine Tree (Longevity) and Bamboo (Humility & Fidelity). All in all, this small object is full of symbolism. It was hand-carved in the latter part of the 20th century but is not signed which is normal for that period. Length 3.6 cm. Diameter 1.6 cm.