A RED OVERLAY ON WHITE GLASS MINIATURE VASE QING DYNASTY, YANGZHOU SCHOOL, LATE 19TH CENTURY

of slender tapering form, the straight sides rising from a short circular foot to a waisted neck, finely overlaid in red on an opaque white ground, the body decorated with a continuous scene of an armour-clad warrior holding the reins of his reclining horse behind him, clutching a banner as he kneels to a female deity standing amidst swirled clouds between the crescent moon and a constellation, her wheeled handcart and two attendants beyond, the shoulder inscribed in seal script fugui shoukao 'Wealth, honour and longevity', and signed Youshan zuo with seal Weizhi zhenwan, the mouthrim set with a key-fret band in the overlay colour, the recessed base encircled with a short red overlay foot

Collection of Madame L. (formed in the 1920 and 30s by repute).
Christie's Paris, 15th June 2004, lot 33.

Journal International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring 2011, p. 26, fig. 38 row 2.

There is a tiny ‘C’-shaped hairline crack inside the glass to the rim, some minor nibbles to the edges and expected air bubbles, but overall the vase is in good condition. The actual colour is consistent with the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present miniature glass vase is one of two vases known to be associated with the late Qing philanthropist Li Weizhi, who resided in Yangzhou and was the brother of Li Yunting. Youshan was a name likely to have been associated with the Li brothers. The other vase, of slender ovoid form with pink overlay decoration on white glass, from the Shorenstein and Elizabeth Parke Firestone collections, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st December 2010, lot 2926. The Shorenstein vase bears a seal which reads Weizhi zhenwan which may be translated as 'for the treasured appreciation of Weizhi'. Li brothers were patrons of glass makers at Yangzhou during the 1870s and perhaps early 1880s, resulting in a number of snuff bottles and these two vases bearing their seals. For more information on the Li brothers see Hugh Moss and Stuart H. Sargent, 'The world in a bottle in the world at the end of the Qing Empire: Part 2: Yangzhou overlay glass', Journal International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Spring 2011, p. 26.

For examples of miniature overlay-glass vases of related form see a white-glass vase with blue overlay decoration of five chilong included in the exhibition Elegance and Radiance, The Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2000, cat. no. 123, from the collection of Andrew K.F. Lee;  a slightly larger pair decorated with birds perched amongst peony blooms in blue overlay, sold in our New York rooms, 27th March 1982, lot 71; and another pair sold in our London rooms, 28th October 1983, lot 55, bearing a flock of birds flying and perched amongst blossoming prunus trees in red overlay.