Lot 246
Treasury 5, no. 975 (‘Loyalty Sandwich’)
HK$93,750

Very pale, transparent, sapphire-blue glass and biotite, sandwiched between two layers of semi-transparent, streaked, milky white glass suffused with small air bubbles, some elongated; with a flat lip and recessed, slightly convex foot surrounded by a protruding rounded foot rim; carved as a single overlay with a formalized mallow flower on each main side
1760-1830
Height: 5.53 cm
Mouth/lip: 0.78/1.68 cm
Stopper: mother-of-pearl; coral collar

Provenance:
General Stillwell
Robert Hall (1997)

Published:
Treasury 5, no. 975

For the symbolism of the aibika (or hibiscus manihot), see Sale 2, lot 153. With colouring is so effective and unusual, this sandwiched bottle would be counted rare even without the relief carving, which elevates it to the category of unique. The sandwiched layer contains flecks of biotite, and the outer layer of the sandwich was sufficiently thick to accommodate a relatively deep single-overlay design on each main side, and also a substantial foot rim.

The bottle is confidently carved and impressive, if falling short of the highest possible standard. The tall, narrow, rounded foot rim is a feature of some bottles that can be dated to the mid-Qing period. The delineation of the foot-rim colour, while satisfactory, is neither entirely crisp nor even, and the indications are that this was produced in the mid-Qing period.

Whatever its minor shortcomings technically, it rises above them with its unique combination of materials and its use of sandwiched glass to form a cameo overlay carving.

This is not the Sotheby’s sale catalogue. This is a product of Hugh Moss for the purposes of this website. For the catalogue details please refer to Sotheby’s website or request a copy of a printed sale catalogue from Sotheby’s.