A Rare and Finely Carved White Jade Censer and Cover. Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period. Photo Sotheby's

the deep bowl with rounded sides rising to an everted rim, carved as a band of ruyi heads, interrupted by opposing winged mythical beast-form handles suspending loose rings, the domed cover set with four loops in the form of mythical beast heads suspending loose rings, below a separately carved circular finial in the form of a shou medallion encircled by ruyi heads, all supported on a separately carved flared circular pedestal foot, the sides of the body and cover left undecorated to display the ideal beauty of the even and translucent stone. Width over handles 7 1/2 in., 19.1 cm - ESTIMATION 200,000-300,000 USD

PROVENANCE: Acquired prior to 1950.

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: Two vessels with similarly elaborate loose ring finials and similar ruyi-band-form everted rims in the Palace Museum Collection, Beijing, are illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, pls 197 & 198, where they are described as lian (covered circular containers). It is unusual to have the sides undecorated, but in this case, the color and the translucency of the stone is shown to advantage by the unadorned surfaces, and the lustrous polish heightens the refined effect.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, New York | 11 sept. 2012 www.sothebys.com