Description:

The lobes on the body and lid of this jar look like the petals of a chrysanthemum flower. Chrysanthemums were symbols of long life in China as they were thought to have health-giving properties. People gave objects decorated with these flowers as presents to elderly friends and relatives.

Records of the Imperial palace in Beijing show how the Qianlong emperor’s mother was given glass dishes of various colours with chrysanthemum petal designs for her seventieth birthday celebrations in 1761. They are described in poetic terms for example “Golden waves, overwhelming, rolling and tossing of billows”.

Glass, mould-blown
Height: 4.5 cm, diameter: 6.5 cm, neck diameter: 5.7 cm
Four-character mark of Qianlong reign (1736-1795)

Creator: Unknown

Date: Qianlong reign period (1736-1795)

Copyright: Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Object ID:N4785