QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK WITHIN DOUBLE-SQUARES AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

Both the form and colour combination of this double-gourd vase are extremely rare and very few related examples have been published. The exceptionally fine carving and depiction of insects among flowering plants can be seen on another Qianlong-marked blue overlay ruby glass vase in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing illustrated by Zhang Rong, Luster of Autumn Water, Glass of the Imperial Workshop, Beijing, 2005, pp. 246-247, no. 81.