DescriptionA vibrant Chinese yellow Peking glass brush pot (bitong), formed in bold relief with flowering branches set against a flowing natural landscape.The decoration is integrally formed in relief during the glassmaking process. The design was created by pressing or molding the molten opaque glass so that the floral motifs emerge from the surface in sculptural dimension. The result is a smooth yet deeply modeled surface, with rounded contours and softly defined edges characteristic of molded Peking glass.The scene depicts blossoming lotus flowers and broad leaves rising from stylized water. The lower register features gently undulating lines suggesting rippling currents, while the upper area flows into curling foliage. The lotus, long associated in Chinese culture with purity and spiritual refinement, grows from muddy waters yet blooms clean and radiant — a powerful literati symbol. The continuous wrapping composition creates movement around the cylindrical form. Very good original condition.The saturated opaque yellow glass is especially striking. Yellow has historically held imperial associations in Chinese decorative arts, symbolizing authority, centrality, and prestige. The surface has a rich, glossy finish that enhances the sculptural quality of the relief.Traditionally used in a scholar’s studio to hold calligraphy brushes, brush pots such as this were both practical objects and aesthetic statements. Today, it serves equally well as a decorative vessel or collector’s object.Age: 20th CenturyDimensions: 4″ diameter x 3″ high
