Description:

The records of the imperial palace show that glass items were often made in pairs or given as gifts in pairs. This is probably because bottles were placed in pairs on altars or in formal settings. The circular design is based on the Chinese character shou which means long life. Carved dragons curl around the neck of each bottle.

Glass, carved
Height: 20.3 cm, diameter: 11.0 cm, neck diameter: 3.5 cm
Six-character mark of Qianlong reign (1736-1795), inlaid with gold

Chinese Description:

玻璃瓶一对 中国，清乾隆朝(1736-1795) 据清宫档案所载，这类玻璃瓶多制作成对，或配对为贺礼。也许这类瓶子配对成双以置于祭坛，或其他日常场合。而寿字纹饰，更有祝寿的美意。 刻有「乾隆年制」的金字 玻璃，雕刻

Creator: Unknown

Date: Qianlong reign period (1736-1795)

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4577