Hong Kong Palace Museum | The Quest for Originality: Contemporary Design and Traditional Craft in Dialogue

The minimal yet dynamic design of this vase was achieved through a complex production process. After the body was made with white glass, red and blue glass strips were applied to create patterns. The vase was then polished, like jade, after which aquamarine glass was added on the rim and the base. Only the Imperial Workshops, which had at its disposal the best craftsmen and materials in China, could realise such an imaginative design.

Commonly used in ancient China, lamps like this were modelled after bronze food service vessels called dou. Here, the basic features of the dou have been retained, but with the addition of significant improvements–such as a five-petalled flower in the centre for the wick and a specially shaped handle for a stable grip–marrying aesthetics and functionality.