A RARE AVENTURINE GLASS 'LEAF AND GRAPEVINE' INK PALETTE

Qianlong

Qianlong
Naturalistically carved as a vine leaf with furled edges, with finely-incised veins and ripe grapes, the reverse carved in relief with gnarled leafy branches extending across the base and forming the handle, the dish of lustrous caramel-brown tone with gold speckles. 8.5cm (3 3/8in) long.

清乾隆 金星玻璃葡萄葉式筆掭

Provenance:
Parry Collection, London, and thence by descent

來源：
倫敦Parry家族收藏，並由後人保存迄今

Aventurine glass was mainly used for scholarly objects in the Qing Court during the Qianlong reign; see from the Qing Court Collection an aventurine glass lotus-leaf shaped ink palette, inkstick stand, wristrest and waterpot and vase, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Small Refined Articles of the Study, Shanghai, 2009, nos.119, 128, 169 and 202.

The naturalistic leaf form with its curling edges and veins lent itself perfectly to be adapted by the Qianlong reign craftsmen for use as ink palettes or washers. The popularity of the form is demonstrated in its use in different materials including aventurine glass, variously decorated porcelain and jade; see ibid., nos.114 and 117-122.

Compare with a small aventurine glass waterpot, Qianlong, which was sold at Christie's New York, 18 September 2015, lot 2405. See also an aventurine glass 'phoenix and peach' vase, Qing dynasty, which was sold at Bonhams London, 16 May 2013, lot 236.

金星玻璃，在清內務府養心殿造辦處檔案中，又稱「溫都裡那石」，是清代玻璃中較為珍貴的品種。根據造辦處檔案，清代御製金星玻璃僅見於乾隆一朝，且多用作文房用器，如筆洗、筆筒、墨床、臂擱、水丞等，詳見《故宮博物院藏文物珍品大系：文玩》，上海，2009年，編號119、128、169、202等例。

本例作葡萄葉式，一側飾葡萄一株。葉片曲折捲起形成的弧度，十分適合用作筆掭或水丞。同款題材亦可見於瓷器、玉器等材質，如《故宮博物院藏文物珍品大系：文玩》一書中編號114及117-122等例。

參考一例清乾隆金星玻璃海棠式水丞，售於紐約佳士得，2015年9月18日，編號2405。另見一例清金星玻璃鳳紋瓶，售於倫敦邦瀚斯，2013年5月16日，拍品編號236。