58 | A CARVED RUBY RED GLASS JUG AND GILT BRONZE HANDLE Canton workshops, made for the Imperial court in Beijing Qianlong period 1736-1795 AD China The ewer is of European form, and carved in low relief around the body with two sinuous five clawed dragons. They each look back over their bodies above cresting waves which crash around the base, and amongst ruyi head form clouds. The waisted shoulder is decorated with a curling "C" form motif and dots between two border dividing lines - and the flared neck and spout are carved with overlapping plantain leaves. The gilt bronze handle is hammered and chased with lotus flowers and leaves amongst a stippled ground, and the underside of the handle, with overlapping scales. Height: 7 5/8" / 19.3 cm The shape of this jug is derived from English porcelain prototypes of the 1760's - possibly Worcester, Liverpool or Caughley. The gilt bronze handle is synonymous with work executed in the Canton factories. Similar example: 'A Chorus of Colors', Chinese Glass from Three American Collections - Asian Art Museum of San Francisco 1995, fig. 81: the ewer (mark & period of Qianlong), in the form of a phoenix and of translucent ruby colour, is carved in the same style - and the gilt bronze handle is almost identical. The ewer bears the Imperial mark Qianlong nian zhi engraved in seal script within a square; this marked example helps to confirm the date of the glass jug. Many works of art were made in Canton as tribute to the Emperor in Beijing not all of which were marked. Both the jug and the marked ewer mentioned above, show every possibility of originating from Canton instead of Beijing.