A very rare small blue glass bottle vase, Mark and period of Yongzheng | 清雍正 藍料小長頸瓶 《雍正年製》款

At the beginning of the Yongzheng period, the Imperial glasshouses, established in the 35th year of the Kangxi reign (1696), were already producing high-quality monochrome vessels, the vast majority of which were unmarked. The manufacturing process was becoming increasingly systematic and refined. In the 2nd year of the Yongzheng reign (1724), the Emperor took a keen interest in the output of the Zaobanchu, proclaiming that 'henceforth, whenever it is possible to place reign marks, such marks should be inscribed on the items'.

Yongzheng reign-marked glass vases are extremely rare, with only a small number preserved in museum and private collections. The pear-shaped form of the present vase likely made its first appearance in celadon-glazed vases dating to the Song dynasty. For reference, see a Ge ware pear-shaped vase from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Porcelain of the Song Dynasty (II), Hong Kong, 2010, pl. 36. This elegant shape was much admired by the Yongzheng Emperor and was copied on monochrome ceramics by the imperial kiln. For example, see a pear-shaped aubergine-glazed vase, mark and period of Yongzheng, from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 2010, pl. 165.

The only other recorded glass vases of this colour, size, and form are from the Plesch Collection, sold at Christie's London, 16th November 1998, lots 289 and 315.