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Lot Essay
The shape and the decoration of this censer, with taotie masks, refer to ancient bronze vessels which were highly regarded by the Emperor Qianlong. Thus, such archaistic shapes and patterns can be found on several jade pieces from his reign. See the white jade Hu vase and the celadon jade Gu vase from the Palace Museum, illustrated in Jadeware (III) - The Complete Collection of Treasures of the National Palace Museum, Hong Kong 1995, p.179, pl.146 and p.164, pl.132.
For a similarly carved censer with the same feet and taotie masks see the one from the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Op. Cit., p.71, pl.59.
The handles of the current lot, with deers, are quite rare. For comparable handles see a jade cup from the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Op. Cit., p.250, pl.205.
A white jade censer with identical recumbent deers on both handles was sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 27&28 April 1997, lot 577.
For a similarly carved censer with the same feet and taotie masks see the one from the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Op. Cit., p.71, pl.59.
The handles of the current lot, with deers, are quite rare. For comparable handles see a jade cup from the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Op. Cit., p.250, pl.205.
A white jade censer with identical recumbent deers on both handles was sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 27&28 April 1997, lot 577.