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)

Chinese Description:

菊花式盖罐 中国，清乾隆朝 (1736-1795) 北京清宫档案记载1761年(乾隆26年)，乾隆母后七十岁寿辰获颜色不一的菊花式玻璃碟为贺礼。菊花有药用价值，故又代表长寿。器皿取形于菊花不但寓意深远，更别有一番雅趣。 刻有「乾隆年制」四字 玻璃，有模吹制

Creator: Unknown

Date: Qianlong reign period (1736-1795)

Copyright: Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Object ID:N4785