B68

Glass, translucent ruby-red exquisitely carved with writhing and confronting archaic dragons, the neck surrounded with palm fronds, the shoulders carved with mask ring handles; the bottle of elegant, tall flattened form with a raised oval foot rim.

Chinese, Qianlong period, 1736-1795
Stopper: Green jadeite
Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd, London, 1975
Height: 8.5cm

The design, manufacture, essence and inspiration for this beautiful glass work of art are pure Imperial: even the form itself without the decoration would imply the bottle was made at the glass works in the Forbidden City, Beijing.

Zodiac sign / Dragon