An Olive-Brown Overlay Pink Glass ‘Mallow Flower’ Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 5, no. 964.

A few small bubbles burst at the surface. One larger, elongated bubble burst just below the base of the neck. Good condition.
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Mallow-head bottles were, of course, a long-term staple of courtly production, whether at the imperial glassworks or not, because of the symbolism of loyalty to the emperor. Here, however, we find an intriguing departure from the normal style of carving. Although the formalization of the flower is standard, and the positioning of the flower-head represents one of the two usual versions, cutting through to the ground plane for the outer row of petals is a rare feature.