Lot 2609. A fine white jade censer and cover, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 21 cm, 8 1/4 in. Estimate 8,500,000 — 10,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 10,180,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's 2010.

the short rounded sides carved in low-relief of a band of two archaistic taotie masks outlined in thin beaded edges rising to a lipped rim, further flanked by a pair of wide archaistic scroll handles, all above three cabriole legs issuing from the mouths of monstrous beasts, the cover similarly decorated with a band of archaistic taotie masks below three recumbent rams carved in high-relief, surmounted by a large knop carved with a ring of stylized lappets, the stone of an even pale celadon-white tone.

Note: Continuing the Song Dynasty tradition of carving jade vessels in the form of archaic bronzes, the Qing Dynasty, adapted classical forms and put their own decorative elements on them. The present lot incorporates the archaic taotie animal masks on the body, but rather than using bovines on the cover, as often found on Zhou Dynasty bronzes, the Qing artisans replaced them with rams. 

The three rams on the cover form the rebus San yang qi tai ('Spring comes in its full form') suggests the auspicious beginning of a new year. The three goats on the cover play on the character yang, meaning a positive force of nature, which sounds like the word for goat. In the Chinese lunar calendar, san yang stands for the first month when Chinese New Year occurs. On the bagua, the eight Trigrams, three continuous bars represent san yang. This decorative motif can be found on porcelains, paintings, jade carvings, bamboo and other materials.

See a white jade archaistic censer with rams on the cover, illustrated in The Jade-Carving Art in the Ch'ing Dynasty, National Museum of History, Taipei, 1996, pp. 80-81. Also compare a pair of archaistic tripod ding with three recumbent bovines on the cover, illustrated in ibid., pp. 72-73.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 08 Oct 10, Hong Kong