A carved nephrite vase. Late Qing Dynasty/20th Century

Of flattened baluster form with sharply cut corners, a pair of reticulated flanges at the waisted neck, loose rings hanging from the pair of qilin-headed loop handles on the shoulder and a bixie forming the finial on the cover, the body carved in delicate low relief with opposing panels of a dragon spewing water over a wave-filled ground, the thinly sectioned matrix of very pale grey-green hue with some icy white veins and natural hairline fissures (minor chip). Sold for $11,400 (Copyright © 2002-2008 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved)

Bonhams. Fine Asian Works of Art, 23 Jun 2008. 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco. www.bonhams.c om