This substantial bowl is carved from ruby-red Peking glass, displaying a deep translucent colour that appears almost black in certain lighting conditions while revealing rich ruby tones when illuminated. The vessel is of elegant rounded form with gently flaring sides and a neatly finished foot ring.
Peking glass was highly prized for its jewel-like appearance and was produced through the careful colouring of molten glass with metallic oxides. The present bowl demonstrates the quality associated with this tradition, its thick walls and solid construction enhancing the depth and intensity of the colour.
With its restrained form and emphasis on material rather than decoration, the bowl reflects the appreciation for monochrome objects that remained popular in China during the late Qing and early Republican periods.
