Page 88 - Reginald and Lena Palmer Collection EXHIBITION, Bonhams London Oct 25 to November 2 2021

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A SMALL ENAMELLED GLASS ‘LILIES AND BUTTERFLY’ VASE
Qianlong iron-red seal mark and of the period
10.5cm (4 1/8in) high.

清乾隆 料胎畫琺瑯花蝶圖小瓶
礬紅「乾隆年製」篆書款

Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London
R.H.R Palmer (1898-1970), acquired from the above in 1933,
Collection no.X69

Published and Exhibited:
The Oriental Ceramic Society, Exhibition of Enamelled Polychrome
Porcelain of the Manchu Dynasty 1644-1912, London, 1951, no.245

來源：
倫敦古董商Spink & Son Ltd.
R.H.R Palmer（1898-1970）於1933年購自上者，典藏編號X69

展覽著錄：
倫敦東方陶瓷學會，《Exhibition of Enamelled Polychrome Porcelain
of the Manchu Dynasty 1644-1912》，倫敦，1951年，編號245

The present vase is notable for its elegant form, delicate enamelled Painted-enamel glass wares were made in co-operation with the
decoration and exquisite quality, characteristic of the finest enamelled Enamel Workshop during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor,
glass wares made in the Imperial Palace Workshop during the however, they reached their zenith in quality and workmanship
Qianlong period. It is a masterpiece made with the combined efforts during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor when they achieved a more
of artists working in two important Imperial Workshops, the Glass lustrous, clear and blemish-free body. at the time, glass was used
Workshop (also known as the Glass House), where the vessel was for daily utensils, sacrificial vessel, furnishing and scholar’s objects.
made and the Enamelling Workshop (where the decoration was During the Qianlong Emperor’s reign, two Western missionaries, Pierre
painted). d’Incarville and Gabriel-Leonard de Brossard, were in charge of the
glass production. Often the shapes and decoration for glass objects
The Imperial Glass Workshop was established in the 35th year of the were devised by Giuseppe Castiglione, the famous Jesuit painter at
Kangxi Emperor’s reign (equivalent to 1696) under the management the Court.
of the Imperial Palace Workshops Zaobanchu located in the Hall of
Mental Harmony, Yangxindian in the Forbidden City. Although glass Compare with a pair of enamelled-glass vases painted with pheasants
was made following orders by the Emperor, the Palace Workshop and flowering peony blooms, incised Qianlong four-character marks,
itself was guided and managed by Jesuit missionaries who introduced in the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, illustrated by E.B.Curtis,
new glass technologies at the Court. According to archival records, Pure Brightness Shines Everywhere. The Glass of China, Burlington,
both Western and Chinese artisans from Guangdong and Shandong 2004, pl.9.10. See also a glass vase painted with flowers and birds,
worked at the Glass Workshop throughout the 18th century. Qianlong four-character mark and of the period, illustrated in Luster of
Autumn Water: Glass of the Qing Imperial Workshops, Beijing, 2005,
pl.84; see also another example painted with lilies and other floral
designs, Qianlong mark and of the period, illustrated in ibid., pl.85.

86 | BONHAMS