Lot 2914. A very rare Imperial small ruby-red overlay white glass ‘mallow flower’ bottle vase, Qianlong incised six-character mark in a line and of the period (1736-1795); 4 ¼ in. (10.8 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price realised HKD 875,000. © Christie's Images Ltd  2018. 

The vase, with a globular body, is surmounted by a tall cylindrical neck carved with upright plantain leaves below a band of embossed curls and bosses. The exterior is skilfully carved through the red layer to the opaque white ground to decorate a frieze of two flowering mallow blooms borne on undulating stems issuing curling furled leaves. All is supported on a short splayed foot and the character sui, ‘year’, is incised on the flat base below the incised reign mark.