Blue crystal vase, Qing dynasty, Qianlong

Crystal or glass '琉璃' (liuli), blue, with a carved scene and inscriptions. The shape is supported on a circular foot, with a globular body under a neck that ends in a flaring mouth. There are two handles on each side with a hole for a cord. The decoration is carved on the belly. It depicts a natural landscape with mountains, lakes, forests and some buildings on one side, and a long inscription on the other. 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). On the outside is carved the following poem: "九曲江滩石拄撑，邛郲九折不相争。 邛郲九折不相争。 设非叱驭王尊辈，何必其间冒险行."

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

Height: 20 cm; Mouth Diameter: 6 cm; Weight: 971 g