Item description / significance
This is an inside-painted (inner-painted, reverse painted) glass ball depicting five tigers.
Bought where
in China on Xianyu, the Chinese second-hand marketplace app (from a seller in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, northern China)
Age and origin
Painted in 1992, according to the inscription, probably Hengshui, Hebei Province, in northern China
What I like about it
The facial expression of the tiger looking at the viewer is what sold me! I also like the fact that there are five tigers, and one is white. And of course, the quality of the painting (the level of detail) is high.
See below for photos of this sphere, including photos from the seller.
Inscription
The inscription begins at the top right.
First, it describes the subject: 五虎图, wǔ hǔ tú, 5 tigers picture
Then it gives the year when it was made: 壬申年, rénshēn nián, 1992
Then it says 作, zuò, work.
My photos
Seller’s photos
Other inner-painted balls featuring tigers
Behold, all the tigers I didn’t buy!
