Bottle ID: 00388

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GREEN EMERALD, CARVED W/DRAGONS

Date: 1750-1780

Height: 59 mm

Glass, flattened rounded form, of clear brilliant emerald-green, tapering to a neck with a wide mouth, carved in low relief on the front and reverse with a coiling stylized qilong, the sides carved with tied tendrils and leaves with a raised boss on either side, and with a neatly carved footrim.
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 60.
Kleiner, Robert W. L. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of John Ault, 1990, p. 8, no. 4.

Provenance:

Clare Lawrence Ltd.

Exhibited:

Annual Convention ICSBS Toronto, October 2007

This is a stunning example of the very best of output from the Imperial Palace Workshops of the Qianlong period. The design of coiling archaic qilong on the two main fascias is of a highly stylized form as is the classic scrolling patterns on the two sides. This dark green color appears to be from the Qianlong period onwards, although the Yongzheng dynasty inherited about thirty colors from the previous reign. The style and competence of the carving, however, would also indicate a Qianlong dating.

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