Lot 3564. A finely carved white jade censer and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) wide. Estimate HKD 2,000,000 - HKD 3,000,000. Price Realized HKD 14,100,000. © Christie's Images Ltd. 2011

The rounded censer resting on three cabriole legs emerging from mythical beast heads and flanked by a pair of dragon handles, carved in relief around the sides with archaistic taotie mask designs divided by six raised vertical notched flanges below a waisted rim encircled by a keyfret border, the design repeated on the domed cover beneath a large circular out-turned finial suspending loose rings from three ruyi-form handles, the stone of an exceptionally even white tone, wood stands, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: A Japanese private collector, acquired in Japan in the 1950s.