ABSTRACT
Withal, the wares produced by Kangxi’s glass workshop were intended not only for use by the imperial family. This would have included emissaries bearing tribute from Islamic countries, and while the emperor undoubtedly reciprocated in kind, it is noticeable that in this flurry of glass making activity there are presently no known examples of glass wares with Arabic inscriptions and Kangxi reign marks. Fashioned of bright amber colored glass, the cylindrical body of the cup has two side handles, while the walls on either side of the vessel bear a carved and raised Arabic inscription – ‘There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet’. Therefore, this amber colored glass cup may be viewed as an amalgam of traditional Chinese lapidary practices with imperial glassmaking practices and also, since it was adorned with Arabic inscriptions, an example of the interconnections between the arts of China and Islam.
