A RUBY-RED OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS DEPICTING ANIMALS, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

拍品描述

A RUBY-RED OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS DEPICTING ANIMALS, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911) Of flattened rounded form, this Qing dynasty snuff bottle is worked in ruby-red overlay glass against a translucent snowflake ground, the body rising from a small oval foot to a short cylindrical neck and fitted with a blue glass stopper with integral spoon. The milky, speckled ground gives depth and texture to the vessel, while the vivid red overlay provides a strong decorative contrast, allowing the carved subjects to stand in pronounced relief. The decoration is carefully cut through the ruby-red layer to form lively animal and figure scenes among scrolling branches and foliage. One face shows a rabbit-like animal beside a vessel or drum, set within a framework of leafy stems and curling tendrils; the reverse is carved with a seated or reclining figure, the robe and facial features finely incised. The relief carving exploits the translucency of the overlay, creating passages of darker and lighter red where the glass thickens or thins across the design. Overlay glass snuff bottles were among the most technically demanding products of Qing glassmaking. The process required layers of differently coloured glass to be fused and then selectively carved away, leaving the upper colour standing proud against the ground. The snowflake ground, with its suspended white flecking, was particularly admired for its resemblance to mineral inclusions or winter atmosphere, and here it heightens the theatrical effect of the ruby carving. The use of animals, foliage and figural imagery places the bottle within the auspicious visual language of Qing decorative art. Rabbits and other small animals could suggest longevity, fertility, gentleness or seasonal renewal, while leafy branches and natural settings evoke abundance and continuity. On a snuff bottle, such motifs were intended not simply as ornament but as miniature narratives, rewarding intimate examination in the hand. The combination of strong colour, crisp relief and compact scale gives the piece considerable visual presence. It reflects the Qing taste for technically sophisticated luxury objects that united function, symbolism and virtuoso craftsmanship in miniature form. Height: 7.5cm

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