Peking Glass Peony Bowl

Although practiced for centuries, Chinese glass-making gained prominence during the Qing-dynasty with the introduction of Peking glass. Adapting European technologies, workshops in the Imperial Palace began creating layered and intricately-carved glass pieces that mimicked the translucency of jade, semiprecious stones, and rare jewels. Similar to the process of making cameo glass, this bowl was created by dipping a basic form in layers of white and green glass. The layers were then carved away in a process called "green cut to white," revealing a bas-relief scene of trailing peony stems and leaves. The petals of the blossom were then cut from additional layers of colored glass, to create a vibrant, multi-colored garden. A regal phoenix stands between the peonies, made especially striking against a luminous white background.