Images(3)

candlestick

Translation白套藍色花卉紋玻璃五供（燭台）

Object Name2 Altar Candlesticks

Maker Imperial Workshops (China)

Made FromNon-lead glass, Copper

Date1736-1795

Place MadeChina, Beijing

TechniqueBlown, cased, cameo-carved, assembled

SizeAverage H: 24 cm, Diam: 12.4 cm

Accession Number86.6.2

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Exhibitions

Clear as Crystal, Red as Flame: Later Chinese Glass

Not On View

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

The decoration on these candlesticks was created by layering blue glass onto a base of white glass. Carvers who typically worked with jade ground away the blue glass to create elaborate scrolls and flowers. If you look closely, you will notice that the imagery on each is slightly different, indicating that they were probably not intended to be part of the same set. Five-piece altar sets consisted of a central incense burner flanked by two candlesticks and two vases that would be placed on an altar table to hold incense and other offerings.

Physical Description2 Altar Candlesticks (白套藍色花卉紋玻璃五供（燭台）). Translucent white and transparent dark blue non-lead glasses; blown, cased, cameo-carved, assembled. Assembled shape, of several segments of blue overlay on colorless, cameo carved; with thin, pointed, gilt metal pricket on top, with disk base; attached to a small, shallow drip pan with everted sides and flat base, the exterior blue overlay cameo carved in a series of foliate scrolls and stylized flowers; mounted on a short, blue, turned segment with bulbous knops; on a tall, slender shaft with carved lappet border at the top, and foliate scrolls and stylized flowers (different flower shapes: circular); blue rim at the base; mounted on a large drip pan of shallow, circular shape with everted rim and flat base; blue rim and base; band of relief-carved foliate scrolls and flowers on the sides, with carved stylized leaves at the bottom; incised ring on the underside; mounted on a ball knop, with blue bands at the top and bottom, and relief-carved flowers and foliate scrolls on the side; mounted on a bell-shaped foot, like an inverted tea bowl; terraced blue top with a band of carved jui lappets, a wide band with flowers and foliate scrolls; narrow rounded band near the rim, with a narrow band of scrolls and flowers; blue band at the rim; incised four-character reign marks of the Ch'ien Lung emperor on the molded blue bands at the tops of the bell-shaped feet; circular paper label on the inside of the feet, printed black on white "MICHAEL B. WEISBROD INC.NEW YORK." and inscribed in black ink in the center "177"; foot rim ground flat.
Provenance

Source Michael B. Weisbrod - 1986-03-04