Chinese Vase

Deep cobalt, double-bellied, with a surface like still ink.

Glassmakers in Hebei Province, China, made this vase in Peking glass in the 20th century. Peking glass is a long-standing Chinese tradition of colored glass, often made in rich solid hues. The gourd-shaped body has two swelling lobes, a narrow waist and a small, plain opening. The glass is an even deep cobalt blue, smooth and glossy, with light reflected along the curves. The shape is a simple double-gourd, a classic Chinese form, and the color is so saturated it nearly reads as black in low light.

About 12 inches tall. Gets all the attention it needs from light alone.