An archaistic pale green jade vase, hu, Yuan-Ming Dynasty. Photo: Bonhams.

The pale green stone carved as a flattened hu vase with confronted stylised chilong on the spreading foot, the body with four rows of bosses beneath a taotie mask on each side, beneath incised foliate scrolls, the neck with two animal heads with gaping jaws flanking pairs of confronted stylised chilong, the flaring neck with upright stiff lappets, wood stand. 16.4cm (6 1/2in) high (2). Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300)

Provenance: the Julius Robinson Collection of Fine Jade Carvings, London, and thence by descent

Compare two related hu vases, with similar treatment of the animal-mask handles and archaistic taotie masks and bosses, both dated to the Ming dynasty but slightly smaller (12cm each), illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 7: Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, nos.17-18.

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