vase
Object NameEnamel Painted Bird and Flower Vase
Maker
Imperial Workshops
(China)
Made FromGlass, Enamel
Date1736-1795
Place MadeChina, Beijing
Techniqueblown, enamel painted
SizeOverall H: 16.2 cm, Diam: 8.3 cm
Accession Number53.6.1 B
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
East Meets West: Cross-Cultural Influences in Glassmaking in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Not On View
Interpretive NotesIf you mistook this glass vases for porcelain, you are probably not the only one. Qing emperors enjoyed challenging their craftspeople to mimic different materials, possibly as a way of showcasing their technical skills. Enameled glass that imitates porcelain is extremely rare.
Enamels are essentially glass paints fused to the surface of a vessel during a low-temperature firing (700–800 C). The pinks and purples are the result of dissolving gold particles the size of powdered sugar in a liquid and adding a reactive agent, an important chemical achievement at the time.
Provenance
about 1875-1895
1875-1900