Pot couvert tripode en jade céladon, Kung Chine, dynastie Ming, XVIIE siècle

de forme cylindrique reposant sur trois pieds en forme de personnages, le pourtour à décor en bas relief d'un phénix et d'un dragon archaïsant, un taotie sous l'anse, le couvercle sculpté de masques alternant avec trois félins allongés autour d'un cabochon central 

Collection privée européenne, acquis dans les années 1945-1950.

Long russet colored inclusions running through the body of the cup ; small loss to the extremities of one figure ; loss to the extremity of the handle ; tiny nibbles to the edges ; very light nibbles to the surface due to the natural texture of the stone ; on the cover a 2 mm wide inverted V shape chip to the bottom edge due to a natural inclusion ; tiny loss at one ear of one cat ; tiny nibbles to the edges ; very light surface sratching to the inside of the cover
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Another similar archaistic cup with a lid, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco ref. B60 J203, is illustrated in René-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, Chinese Jades in the Avery Brundage Collection, Dai Nippon Printing Co, Tokyo, 1977, plate L. p.114.