Amber glass inkwell, Qing dynasty, Qianlong

Amber-coloured glass or crystal with carved inscriptions. The shape is a truncated pyramid with a square base, a circular hole at the top and four bulging facets. On each facet is an engraved inscription of sixteen characters. In very good condition.

In the centre of the base is an engraved mark '乾隆年制' (Qiánlóng nián zhì) from the Qianlong period (1736 - 1795).

Provenance: Important collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980.

Height: 4 cm; Base width: 5.8 cm; Mouth diameter: 3 cm; Weight: 96 g