Description:

Here the craftsman has sandwiched a layer of brown glass between two layers of opaque yellow glass. To do this the base layer of yellow glass was dipped into molten brown and then molten yellow glass. The landscape scene was engraved using a diamond, a technique known as diamond-point engraving.

It is possible that the brown layer of glass acted as a guide to the engraver who would stop engraving when brown glass showed, preventing the vessel being pierced. Art historians believe that European Jesuit missionaries introduced the technique of diamond point engraving to China. Many of the Jesuits who came to China as missionaries were also specialists in science and technology.

Glass, diamond point engraved
Height: 20.5 cm, diameter: 10.0 cm, neck diameter: 4.1 cm

Creator: Unknown

Date: About 1775, Qing dynasty

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4770