Bottle ID: 00135

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CLEAR W/RED OVERLAY, PRUNUS FLOWERS

Date: 1780-1880

Height: 65 mm

Glass, of flattened rounded form tapering to a slightly everted mouth, overlaid with red on a clear ground and carved on each side with a large prunus flower-head encircled by twelve smaller ones; the sides carved with mock mask and ring handles.

Similar Examples:

Hall, Robert.  Chinese Snuff Bottles II, 1989, p. 106, no. 86 and p. 124, no. 104. 

Provenance:

Clare Lawrence Ltd.
Christie's, Hong Kong, April 1, 1992, lot 1593

Exhibited:

Annual Convention ICSBS Toronto, October 2007

The use of prunus flower-heads as a decorative form occurs on overlay glass bottles throughout the Qing period, more often shown with bamboo and pine as one of the 'Three Friends of Winter' and symbolizing longevity.  Usually the prunus is portrayed blossoming on the seemingly lifeless branches of its tree in a more natural depiction and not in this formalized pattern, while hibiscus and mallow flower-heads tend to be shown in a disjointed manner.  This example is somewhat unusual in that the central flower-head has six petals while the surrounding heads have five each, perhaps carved in this way to provide symmetry to the overall design.

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