Lot 2932. A rare imperial amber-colour glass bottle vase, Qianlong wheel-cut four-character mark within a double square and of the period (1736-1795); 9 in. (22.8 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 240,000 - HKD 320,000. Price realised HKD 300,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018.

The vase is constructed with the body sitting on a countersunk base, flaring to a broad shoulder below a long, cylindrical neck. The metal is of a rich, deep caramel colour reminiscent of amber, box.

Literature: Franz Art, Chinese Art from the Hedda and Lutz Franz Collection-Glass, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 2011, pp.45, pl. 1101.

Note: The present vase belongs to a group of glass wares made to imitate other types of material, such as jades and other hardstones which was a trend favoured by the Qianlong Emperor. This vase was made to elegantly and naturalistically replicate the colour and appearance of amber. Comparable Qianlong examples include an opaque orange vase imitating realgar, illustrated by H. Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong, 1986, p. 127, no. 94.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 28 November 2018