Images(24)

vase

Object NameSnowflake Warrior Vase

Translation霏雪地套紅「八大錘」雕刻玻璃大瓶

Made FromGlass, Teak Wood

Dateabout 1825-1875

Place MadeChina

TechniqueMold-blown, cased, cameo-carved, wheel-engraved

SizeOverall H: 49.2 cm; Body Diam: 24 cm

Accession Number57.6.10

Credit LineGift of Benjamin D. Bernstein

Curatorial Area(s)

Exhibitions

Clear as Crystal, Red as Flame: Later Chinese Glass

Glass of the Alchemists: Lead Crystal-Gold Ruby, 1650–1750

On ViewEuropean Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

On this monumental vase, warriors clash in an epic battle scene from Eight Hammers, a popular story in 19th-century Beijing opera. The spear-wielding hero, Lu Wenlong, battles four generals, each holding two menacing hammers. The glassmakers captured the theatricality and dynamism of the action on the front of the vase.

In addition to their skills as storytellers, the glassmakers also mastered the cameo technique, carving the thick red glass layer to reveal the snowflake glass underneath. Snowflake glass was created by incorporating pure white sand and air bubbles into the glass batch.

Physical DescriptionSnowflake Warrior Vase (霏雪地套紅「八大錘」雕刻玻璃大瓶). Colorless cased with "snowflake" glass, with third layer of transparent red glass. mold-blown, cased with thick red glass, carved, wheel-engraved. Tall, thick vase. Cylindrical neck tapers slightly, with flat rim. Globular body. Applied base of red glass flares downward, with cutout circular hollow; outer edge of rim is roughly beveled. Cameo engraving: on body, horseman with two spears fights against four horsemen, each with two bulbous "hammers," in landscape with rocks, trees, and stylized flowers; on reverse, pine tree and rocky mountains. Flight of steps leads from battle scene on body to brick wall foundation with three-domed pavilion on neck, where four figures look and point at scroll painting. Scene on painting is wheel-engraved; it shows a decapitated man, with his severed head at his feet, and a bystander. Vase rests on teakwood stand in shape of lotus blossom, with seeds of central pod in detached carving.
Provenance

Source Benjamin D. Bernstein (1907-2003) - 1957-04-12