An imperial ruby-red glass archaistic 'chilong' cup, Seal mark and period of Qianlong 清乾隆 御製寶石紅料仿古螭龍鋪首紋盃 《乾隆年製》款

Paul Champkins, London, circa 1990s.

Paul Champkins，倫敦，約1990年代

The present cup is of a very rare form created in ruby-red glass of exceptional brilliance complemented by the skilfully carved archaistic motifs in low relief. The imposing and drum-shape is reminiscent of archaic bronze vessels, as such archaistic form and decoration were greatly admired by the Qianlong emperor as demonstrated on a number of the imperial works of art made for his court. The Qianlong emperor’s profound admiration for ruby-red glass is evidenced by the entries in the Imperial Archives in the first year of the Qianlong reign, which document the acquisition of a bright red glass vase, a vase with red overlay kui dragons on clear glass and a vase with red overlay on opaque white glass, see Luster of Autumn Water - Glass of the Qing Imperial Workshop, Beijing, 2005, p. 74

Only a few other related examples of this type appear to have been published. See a very similar ruby-red glass cup, Qianlong period, from the Collection of Alan E. Feen, illustrated in A Chorus of Colors: Chinese Glass from Three American Collections, San Francisco, 1995, no.83; and two other related examples from the Collection of Walter and Phyllis Shorenstein, including a carved ruby-red glass bird-form ewer, Qianlong mark and period, later sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 2928, similarly decorated ruby-red glass bowl, Qianlong period, later sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 2937, illustrated in ibid., 1995, nos. 81 & 82. See also an imperial aquamarine glass jar, Qianlong mark and period, from the Hope Danby Collection, which was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2011, lot 3160.

盃直口，鼓腹，口及足微斂，呈鼓形，器身外分三層紋飾，以淺浮雕分別飾鼓釘紋，螭龍、夔龍紋以及蕉葉紋。造型古樸，製作精細，打磨考究，玻璃晶瑩通透，為宮廷造辦處製作不可多得之器。觀此器造型及紋飾，均受上古彝器啟發，印證隆帝慕古追新的藝術審美品味。而根據清宮造辦處活計檔的記載，亦可知乾隆帝對寶石紅料器之專情，見《Luster of Autumn Water - Glass of the Qing Imperial Workshop》，北京，2005年，頁74。

此式御製仿古寶石紅料器存世不多，僅見少數類似之例出版，參看一件Alan E. Feen舊藏，與本器非常相似的一件清乾隆寶石紅盃，出版於《A Chorus of Colors: Chinese Glass from Three American Collections》，三藩市，1995年，編號83。另見舒思深伉儷舊藏兩例，一件清乾隆御製寶石紅料龍紋鳳首執壺，後售於香港佳士得2010年12月1日，拍品編號2928，以及一件清乾隆透明紅料刻饕餮紋大盌，同樣售於香港佳士得2010年12月1日，拍品編號2937，見上同著錄，1995年，編號81及82。另見Hoe Danby舊藏一件清乾隆御製透明綠料饕餮紋渣斗，售於香港佳士得2011年11月30日，拍品編號3160。