A pale green jade flattened pear-shaped archaistic vase, hu, Yuan-Ming Dynasty. Photo: Bonhams.

The body and shoulders finely carved with borders of curling tendrils, the sides of the vase with two high-relief mythical animal mask handles below pendent lappets enclosing geometric designs around the flaring mouthrim. 13.5cm (5 1/4in) high. Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 (€12,000 - 18,000)

Related archaistic hu vases, dated to the Ming dynasty and carved with animal-head handles and decorative registers including bosses and scrolls, are illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 7: Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, nos.17-19.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 -http://www.bonhams.com/