This style of rhyton with the cup held in the mouth of a dragon belongs to a distinct group of jade carvings. The spiral-shaped body of the dragon, the smaller clambering dragons and the band of archaistic scrolls around the cup are common features amongst these jades. The present example is distingushed by the fine colouring of the stone, and the restraint and skill of the carving. Rawson illustrates an example with more extensive scrolls, op. cit., no. 29.8 dated 16-17th century and refers to the Han dynasty predecessor for this style of rhyton. She comments that the dragon head at the base of the cup is a later invention "perhaps required in a Chinese context to provide a visual explanation for the source for of the twisted bifurcated tip". Another finely carved example is illustrated in Zhongguo Yuqi Quanji, Qing, vol. 6, no 41 and is dated middle Qing dynasty. A smaller and highly "animated" rhyton from the collection of Dr Ip Yee is shown in Chinese jade carvings, Catalogue, no. 214.

A useful comparison can be made with the band of scrolls found on the gourd-shaped vessel and cover in the collection of Mr Brian McElney illustrated in Chinese Jade Carving, Catalogue, no. 209, dated Ming dynasty and also illustrated and discussed in Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, Catalogue, no. 133. Watt refers to the "very interesting comma-pattern decorative band, which can be regarded as a tightly packed series of S curves or ju-i heads."