Hetian white jade square vase ‘Taotie’, Qing dynasty

Carved white Hetian jade vase, square and slender in shape, with a geometric lid crowning the body. The shape evokes archaic bronze ritual vessels. The colour of the jade is pure and uniform white, with a reddish-brown vein on one side. The decoration is carved in low relief on the panels of the body, featuring the archaic Taotie mask motif in wide bands in the central section, flanked by borders of fretwork or leiwen. The neck is flanked by four zoomorphic handles, fierce beasts with open jaws from which movable rings hang. The vase is presented on a carved wooden base. Qing dynasty (1644–1912).

Size: 23 x 7.4 x 7.4 cm

Weight: 1000 g