A rare example of clear cast glass in the shape of a libation cup and made in the style of carved rock crystal. The piece was manufactured by melting the glass in a mould, with some of the details which were finished by hand. The piece is elegantly decorated with figures of dragons in high relief, surrounded by studs and wave motifs in low relief.
The cup stands on a short-stemmed cylindrical foot.

In the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) glassmaking witnessed a big revival, probably a result of the imperial support, as many ateliers which were working specifically for the palace were established. The creation of these imperial workshops and their openness towards the introduction of western techniques, lead to the flourishing of Chinese glassmaking. Qing glass production was marked by enthusiastic support from the emperor, princes, and high officials and glass objects like the ones presented here were luxury articles. In the Kangxi period (1661-1722, the third emperor of the Qing dynasty) glass imitation of gems reached its peak, with clear glass used in place of rock crystal. Rock crystal was a material treasured by the Chinese people in the same way as they treasured jade and was a symbol of purity.