A large turquoise glass bottle vase, Qianlong incised four-character mark within a square and possibly of the period (1736-1795). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014.

The thick-walled vase is formed with a globular body surmounted by a tall cylindrical neck and is raised on a slightly flared foot. The opaque glass is of a bright turquoise-blue colour. 13½ in. (34.5 cm.) high. Estimate £3,000 – £5,000 ($5,064 - $8,440)

Provenance: Property from a Private European Collector.

Notes: A pair of similar turquoise blue glass bottles, but even larger, was sold in Christies Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1292. It is rare to find vases of this large size and incised with Qianlong reign marks. Most vases of this shape and colour are small, such as the pair (16.5 cm. high) sold in Christies New York, 19 September 1996, lot 369. Compare also to an unmarked turquoise glass bottle vase of similar shape and large size, dated 18th/19th century, from the collection of Alan E. Feen, included in the exhibition A Chorus of Colors, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 1995, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 51.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 13 May 2014, London, King Street - http://www.christies.com/