Bottle vase

China

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Yongzheng mark and period (1723–35)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 221

This mallet-shaped bottle once held the tongs and spatula used in traditional Chinese incense ceremonies. Successfully mimicking realgar (a mineral used as a magical material in Daoist practices), this glass vessel is a perfect combination of traditional Chinese taste and newly imported European glassmaking techniques.

Bottle vase, Glass in imitation of realgar, China

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Bottle vase, Glass in imitation of realgar, China
Bottle vase, Glass in imitation of realgar, China

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