Lot 4118. An imperial blue overlay raspberry-pink glass double-gourd vase, Qianlong four-character mark within double-squares and of the period (1736-1795), 6 in. (15.2 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 600,000 - HKD 800,000. Price realised HKD 1,700,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The characteristic double-gourd shaped vase is finely carved through a layer of pastel blue glass to depict insects in flight and lingzhi fungus among a flowering and fruiting pomegranate tree growing from rocks. The waisted mid-section of the vase is enveloped by a wide blue ribbon.

Note: Both the form and colour combination of this double-gourd vase are extremely rare and very few related examples have been published. The exceptionally fine carving and depiction of insects among flowering plants can be seen on another Qianlong-marked blue overlay ruby glass vase in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing illustrated by Zhang Rong, Luster of Autumn Water, Glass of the Imperial Workshop, Beijing, 2005, pp. 246-247, no. 81. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 30 May 2012, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall