IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1720-1820

Details

A CARVED AND MOLDED OPAQUE YELLOW GLASS 'MALLOW' SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1720-1820
The bottle is delicately molded and carved on each side as a mallow blossom, the petals also forming the narrow sides and foot.
2 ¾ in. (7 cm.) high, glass stopper

Provenance

Robert Kleiner, London, 2002.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 3391.

Exhibited

Boston, International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Convention, The Barron Collection, 23-26 September 2008.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Lot Essay

This bottle is formed on either side with a stylized mallow, a symbol of loyalty to the Emperor, as the head of the mallow follows the path of the sun all day, and the sun is associated with the Emperor. Because of its symbolism, this design was ideal as decoration on bottles presented by the Emperor to his officials, reminding them constantly of their duty of loyalty, hence its popularity at the Imperial glassworks and elsewhere in the Palace workshops. For another bottle with mallow flower decoration, please see lot 345.

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