A FINE TRANSLUCENT RUBY-RED GLASS BOTTLE VASE QIANLONG WHEEL...

Hammer

£12,500

A FINE TRANSLUCENT RUBY-RED GLASS BOTTLE VASE
QIANLONG WHEEL CUT FOUR CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD
清 '乾隆年制'宝石红玻璃瓶
the high shouldered tapered body with a long cylindrical neck
24.2cm high

PROVENANCE: From the Private Collection of the Late George Withers (1946-2023).

NOTE: The present vase belongs to a group of glass wares made to imitate other types of material, such as jades and other hardstones which was a trend favoured by the Qianlong Emperor. This vase was made to elegantly and naturalistically replicate the colour and appearance of ruby amber. Comparable Qianlong examples include an opaque orange vase imitating realgar, illustrated by H. Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong, 1986, p. 127, no. 94.
Peking glass originated in China in the 18th century, after Jesuit missionaries introduced modern glass-making methods. Soon after, the Kangxi Emperor established an Imperial glass-works to produce snuff-bottles and vases, usually imitating jade and other precious stones. The craft then spread and was adopted by artisans across China, reaching a golden age under the Qianlong Emperor.

Related examples:
A vase of similar form and date, in opaque turquoise glass, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, was included in the exhibition, Clear as Crystal, Red as Flame, China Institute, New York, 21 April - 16 June 1990, no. 33.
Compare a related translucent ruby-red bottle vase with a Qianlong mark in the Andrew K. F. Lee Collection, illustrated in Elegance and Radiance: Grandeur in Qing Glass, The Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000, pp. 104-5, no. 11.
Compare a slightly larger red glass bottle of similar shape, also bearing a Qianlong reign mark, formerly in the Curtis Family, and Hugh W. Greenberg collections, sold at Christie’s New York, 18-19 September 2014, lot 1139.
Compare an amber-colour glass vase of similar size and shape, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2018, lot 2932.

For and identical vase sold at auction see - Christie's New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 19th of September 2014, lot 1139.

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More Information

Good condition with age related wear. There is a minute 'pinhead' size light spot around the rim which could be either extremely minor nick or firing fault. It is only visible under high magnification and is within the glass, not on the surface and is in our opinion a firing fault not damage.