A very fine jade censer and cover Qing dynasty, Qianlong period

magnificently carved, the deep-bodied vessel of compressed globular form, set on each side with dragon-mask loop handles suspending loose rings, supported on three ball feet embellished with low relief floral sprays issuing from monster-mask heads, the domed cover surmounted by an undercut and extremely well articulated snarling five-clawed dragon with slender coiled body, the lustrous stone of pale celadon tone subtly mottled with white inclusions, wood stand (3)

Warren E. Cox, New York.

The present vase is carved from stone of exceptionally good quality and color.  Compare a closely related censer and cover with Buddhist lion knop, included in the National Museum of History, Taiwan, exhibition Jade: Ch’ing Dynasty Treasures, Taipei, 1997, no. 80; another illustrated in The Splendor of Jade. Four Thousand Years of the Art of Chiense Jade Carving, New York, 1974, pl. 36; and one illustrated in Stanley Charles Nott, A Catalogue of Rare Chinese Jade Carvings, Palm Beach, 1940, no. 125.  See also one sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 25th April 2004, lot 359; and one carved with phoenix ring handles sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st November 2004, lot 1025.