Clear as Crystal, Red as Flame: Later Chinese Glass
East Meets West: Cross-Cultural Influences in Glassmaking in the 18th and 19th Centuries
On ViewEuropean Gallery
Interpretive Notes
The decoration on this candlestick 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. 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 DescriptionAltar Candlestick. Translucent white and 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 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 “乾隆年制 Qianlong Nianzhi” on the molded blue bands at the tops of the bell-shaped feet writing from right side to the left; 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
