A RUBY-RED OCTAGONAL FACETED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing， 1730-1795
Of octagonal, faceted form with a tall cylindrical neck, each main side with raised quatrefoil faceted panels, of a deep ruby-red tone; stopper.
1 1/4in (4.5cm) high
Footnotes:
1730-1795 紅寶石料刻棱鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Raymond Li, May 1986
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 59

Traditionally, one assumes that it was through enamel-work in the imperial workshops that the influence of the Europeans present at court can be seen. However, it was not only material skills and decoration that were taken from the Europeans. The form of this group of eighteenth-century faceted glass bottles rests solely in the laps of the Europeans. While faceting as a form is stylistically Western, taken from the French and Swiss, the technique of faceting is clearly Chinese. The bottles would have been mold-blown, then cut and polished using similar techniques to the jade carvers of the time.

Very good condition. A beautiful bottle with tall neck and elegant swirls to the ruby red glass.