A young woman tilts her head and meets the viewer's eye, one hand lifted to her chin and the other holding a folded sheet of paper. Her blue silk robe is scattered with gilt flower sprays, with coral and cream sleeve linings, a red and black collar and a gold bracelet at the wrist. Her hair is dressed high with a crescent pin and ornaments that hang in fine strands beside her face, all set against a deep teal-blue ground. This portrait is painted in reverse on glass in the manner of the Canton export studios of southern China, where artists laid in the face and fine details first and the background last, so that the finished picture is seen through the glass. The surface has the soft depth that only this technique gives, with gold leaf catching the light across the robe.

At 26 inches tall in its dark wood frame with a brass hanger, it hangs above a console, a sideboard or a bed, or leans on a shelf or a mantel. The teal ground pairs with warm wood, brass and terracotta, and it is a strong anchor for a wall of mixed art.

• Era: Vintage to antique
• Origin: China
• Material: Paint and gilding on glass, wood frame
• Size: 20"(W) x 1"(D) x 26"(H), framed
• Color: Teal blue, coral and gold, dark brown frame
• Condition: Wear consistent with age and use, part of its character and historical value. Minor surface wear in the paint and a dark area in the lower left of the background.

This Chinese reverse glass portrait shows a lady in a blue silk robe with gilt flowers against a teal ground, in the Canton export style, in a dark wood frame with a brass hanger. It measures 20 inches wide, 1 inch deep and 26 inches tall framed. It suits a console, sideboard, bedroom or library wall.

Q: How is a Chinese reverse glass painting made?
A: The artist paints on the back of the glass in reverse order, starting with the highlights and fine details such as the face, jewelry and gold, and ending with the background. The finished layers are seen through the glass, which gives the colors depth and a glossy surface.

Q: Where does a Chinese portrait on glass work in a modern room?
A: It suits a console, a sideboard or the wall above a bed, where its teal and gold stand out against plain walls. Pair it with warm wood, brass and plants, and hang it at eye level.

**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio