The reverse glass painting depicts a detailed courtly scene of Chinese women. Towards the bottom of the panel six women dressed in traditional Chinese clothing stand outside talking to each other while one holds a lantern. Above them, four more look out over a palatial balcony which is surrounded by finely painted blossom trees. The background depicts a mountainous and foliate landscape.
Such paintings were often created for export to Europe, where they were highly prized for their beautiful compositions and vibrant colours, which appeared jewel-like through the glass. The panel sits within a wooden frame with handle to top and is glazed. It is signed in Chinese to the bottom left.
Chinese, late 19th century. Dimensions: Frame height 95cm, width 44.5cm.