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ID #SA1152588
FOR SALE
£575
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Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass
For sale by Jane Short Antiques
for sale €673     $730
£575
Jane Short Antiques

Jane Short Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2020
Browse dealers 186 items
  • About Us
    30 years of expertise in 17th- to early 20th-century furniture and fine art
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Id #SA1152588
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Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass

1920 - 1940
Description

A very attractive pair of Chinese traditional Mirror paintings or reverse paintings on glass.

They are very detailed showing ladies in traditional costume with flowers, foliage and interior scenes.

The frames are traditional lacquered hardwood .and In very good condition.

Fabulous decorating pieces .

We can discuss delivery options in UK mainland .

Payment by bank transfer, PayPal or card via telephone.

INFORMATION.

This is a "reverse painting on glass," also known as Bolihua in Chinese or verre églomisé in French. The artist paints in reverse order, applying details and highlights first, followed by broader areas and background elements.

Origin and Popularity:

This technique gained popularity in China during the Qing Dynasty, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, often created for export to the West.

Subject Matter:

The painting depicts a scene with figures, likely from traditional Chinese motifs, plays, or novels, which were common subjects for these artworks.

Date of Manufacture

Jane Short Antiques has dated these Chinese Reverse Glass Paintings to the 1940s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
52cm (20.47")
Width
35cm (13.78")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1152588
Dealers Internal Reference
A4670
Description
A very attractive pair of Chinese traditional Mirror paintings or reverse paintings on glass.
“
They are very detailed showing ladies in traditional costume with flowers, foliage and interior scenes.
Jane Short Antiques

The frames are traditional lacquered hardwood .and In very good condition.

fig 1. A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.
fig 1. Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass

Fabulous decorating pieces .

We can discuss delivery options in UK mainland .

Payment by bank transfer, PayPal or card via telephone.

INFORMATION.

This is a "reverse painting on glass," also known as Bolihua in Chinese or verre églomisé in French. The artist paints in reverse order, applying details and highlights first, followed by broader areas and background elements.

fig 2. A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.
fig 2. Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass

Origin and Popularity:

This technique gained popularity in China during the Qing Dynasty, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, often created for export to the West.

Subject Matter:

The painting depicts a scene with figures, likely from traditional Chinese motifs, plays, or novels, which were common subjects for these artworks.

Date of Manufacture

Jane Short Antiques has dated these Chinese Reverse Glass Paintings to the 1940s.

Height
52cm (20.47")
Width
35cm (13.78")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1152588
Dealers Internal Ref
A4670
Jane Short Antiques
Jane Short Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2020

30 years of expertise in 17th- to early 20th-century furniture and fine art

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Jane Short Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.
1 / 12
Archive I A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.

Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass

Archive II A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View II
Archive III A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View III
Archive IV A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View IV
Archive V A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View V
Archive VI A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View VI
Archive VII A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View IX
Archive X A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View X
Archive XI A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View XI
Archive XII A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Jane Short Antiques

Jane Short Antiques
Telephone 07850 937057 or 07540 126714
Location
Sudbury
Suffolk
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/janeshort
Verified Since Mar 2020
Items For Sale 186
Items Sold 960
Jane Short Antiques
Jane Short Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/janeshort
Verified
Mar 2020
For Sale
186
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A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.
Chinese Reverse Paintings on Glass
Ref: SA1152588
A pair of rectangular reverse glass paintings depicting Chinese figures in architectural settings framed in black lacquer with decorative brass hanging mounts.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectWall Art
  • Period1920 - 1940
  • StyleChinoiserie
  • MaterialGlass, Wood, Brass
  • ColourGreen and Black
  • MotifsMoon gate, Figurative scenes, Brass hanger, Latticework screen
  • SizeH 52 cm (20 in) x W 35 cm (14 in)

A pair of traditional Chinese reverse paintings on glass, created in the Qing Dynasty style, presents detailed figurative scenes set within architectural and garden environments. Each rectangular glass panel is enclosed within a smooth black lacquered hardwood frame, finished with a decorative pierced brass hanging mount at the top. The left panel portrays a figure reaching towards a suspended cage near a latticework balustrade, surrounded by green foliage and bamboo stalks, whilst the right panel shows figures within a round moon gate archway next to an arrangement of rocks and blossom branches, set against a dark green backdrop. Measuring 52 cm high and 35 cm wide, the individual panels display intricate multi-coloured robes, natural landscapes, and indoor architectural details executed in reverse technique. These wall art pieces fit above a sideboard or console table in a living room, dining room, or hallway to add traditional Chinoiserie decorative interest to an interior.

FAQs

Reverse glass painting is a technique where paint is executed onto the back surface of glass to be viewed from the front, a process popularised in China during the 18th and 19th centuries primarily for export markets.

Artisans applied oil-based pigments or gouache onto glass sheets, building up details backwards from foreground highlights to background layers, before securing the glass inside wooden frames with metal hangers.

Authentic pieces feature multi-layered brushwork visible through the glass depth, traditional timber frames with characteristic brass mounting hardware, and age-consistent signs of paint settlement or minor oxidation.

Display the panels as a pair above a sideboard, arrange them symmetrically within a gallery wall, or integrate them alongside natural timber and brass elements to complement contemporary or eclectic rooms.

Display the artwork away from direct sunlight, high humidity, and heat sources. Clean the front glass face gently using a dry microfibre cloth, avoiding liquid sprays that could seep beneath the frame border.
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