A very rare semi-opaque green glass peach-form box and cover with tourmaline ink palette, 18th-19th century.  Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The emerald-green glass box and cover made in imitation of green jade and well carved in high relief with a leafy branch issuing from one side, the two leaves carved on the underside framing an inscribed mark, Haoyuan zhenwan(the treasured thing of Haoyuan); the pale pink tourmaline palette also of peach form with a well at one end. Box 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) across; palette 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) across (2). Estimate $60,000 - $80,000

清十八/十九世紀 綠料仿碧玉桃形蓋盒配隨形碧璽筆掭 《濠園珍玩》篆書刻款

Provenance: Cola Ma, Hong Kong.

Exhibited: Sumptuous Elegance: Art of the 18th Century Qing Dynasty, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 17 March - 30 June 1992. 

Notes: Haoyuan zhenwan (the treasured thing of Haoyuan) is a mark associated with Xu Shizhang (1889-1954). Xu was a businessman and famous collector/connoisseur of Chinese art during the Republic era. Xu was also the cousin of Xu Shichang, the President of the Republic of China from 10 October 1918 to 2 June 1922. After Xu's death, his family donated much of his collection to the Tianjin Art Museum.

A clear amber glass box of similar peach form dated to the 18th century in the collection of Alan E. Feen is illustrated by E.B. Curtis ed., Pure Brightness Shines Everywhere: The Glass of China, England/Vermont, 2004, p. 72, fig. 8.7. 

Christie's. Auspicious Treasures for Scholars and Emperors: Selections from the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection, 22 March 2012; New York, Rockefeller Plaza