Lot 88. A rare pair of transparent red glass 'chilong' boxes and covers, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Diameter 3 1/4  in., 8.4 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 25,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

each of circular form, the cover carved in low relief with a pair of chilong within a bow string border, the sides of the box and cover with detached C-scrolls and bosses, the transparent glass of a rich ruby-red tone thinning to orange at the rims (4). 

Provenance: Christie's New York, 4th June 1992, lot 34. 

Note: The design of pairs of chilong seen here was likely inspired by Southern Song and Yuan dynasty lacquer ware such as a carved lacquer box and cover included in the exhibition East Asian Lacquer. The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1991, cat. no. 16. 

A single red glass box of this same design was sold at Christie's New York, 1st June 1990, lot 117. 

Sotheby's. Monochrome, New York, 15 sept. 2015