Lot 3161. A Spinach Jade Reticulated Censer and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period (1736-1795); 14.5 cm., 5 3/4  in. Estimate 250,000 — 350,000 HKD. Lot sold 312,500 HKD (29,419 EUR). Photo: Sotheby's

the compressed globular body rising from a splayed foot to square-lipped rim, flanked by a pair of mythical beast head handles suspending loose rings, each with bulging eyes and bushy eyebrows, the exterior carved in low relief with a stylised taotie band between two raised bands encircling the censer, all below a key-fret border collaring the rim, the fitted domed cover finely decorated in openwork with four pairs of confronting kui dragons enclosing four shou characters and surmounted by an everted-rim finial, the stone of a deep spinach-green tone mottled with lighter grey and darker specks, wood stand.