Antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Natural Amber Laughing Buddha Sculpture With Children

Exceedingly rare Chinese carved amber figure of the Buddha with children / acolytes.
Exquisitely carved, the buddha smiling and holding a string of amber beads. The childrens faces, each with its own individual personality.
Intricately carved traditional Chinese surface designs on the robes.
Comes with later wooden plinth.
No markings found.
Condition is excellent with no breakage or repair. Encrustations in places due to the presence of the foreign matter within the amber matrix. We believe this to be Burmese amber (see below).
Age: "Qing" Dynasty.
9 3/8" high (without stand) x 3 1/2" deep x 6" wide.
2.6 pounds.

Burmese Amber, or Burmite, from an extinct species of tropical conifer tree that once grew in the area that is now Burma/Myanmar during the mid to late Cretaceous between 90-105 million years ago, contains little to no succinic acid. Burmese Amber is often found in coal seams and is therefore classed as a form of retinite amber rather than succinite. Although it is considerably less common than Baltic Amber, it is probably the oldest form of amber that is mined and exploited commercially. Burmese Amber is famous for its cherry-red coloured varieties, but as with other ambers it comes in a variety of colours, from pale yellow to brownish orange as well as red. It’s also harder compared to most other ambers and has an 'oily' texture when held. Burmese Amber can be easily distinguished from the more common Baltic Amber under UV light Burmese Amber fluoresces a strong milky blue, whereas Baltic Amber fluoresces pale green.