Lot 162. A large archaistic green jade vase, hu, Qianlong fang gu mark and of the period (1736-1795); 27.3cm (10 6/8in) high. Estimate £ 10,000-15,000. Sold for £ 31,250 (€ 35,687). Courtesy Bonhams.

The vase modelled as a flattened archaic bronze hu, well carved on each side with a taotie mask reserved on a leiwen ground between borders of scrolling clouds, the waisted neck flanked by a pair of animal-head ring handles, the greyish-green stone with opaque white and grey inclusions.

Provenance: a distinguished Belgian private collection, and thence by descent.

Note: Inspired by archaic form and decoration of the Zhou dynasty, the present vase is a fine example of the stylistic developments during the 18th century inspired by the wishes of the Qianlong emperor. The emperor proposed to 'restore ancient ways', referring to the view of ancient culture as having intrinsic qualities of sincerity, simplicity and happy exuberance. For this purpose the Emperor instructed the court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the Xi Qing Gu Jian 西清古(Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities), which were in turn provided to the craftsmen for inspiration; see Chang Li-tuan, The Refined Taste of the Emperor: Special Exhibition of Archaic and Pictorial Jades of the Ch'ing Court, Taipei, 1997, pp.49-50.

For other related examples of jade vases inspired by archaic bronzes, dated to the Qianlong reign, see Zheng Xinmiao, ed., Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, Qing Dynasty vol.10, Beijing, 2010, pls.1,2,6,11-13, 20.

A related rare and large archaistic pale green and grey jade vase and cover, Qianlong fang gu mark and period, sold in these rooms on 7 November 2013, lot 104.