Jade bowl 'Taotie Mask', Western Han dynasty

Translucent jade of a greenish hue with ochre flecks. It has a short circular foot on which sits the convex body with a curved profile, decorated with two taotie masks with a semi-human face with exaggerated features, a spiral nose, open eyes, square teeth and a large mouth that connects to two phoenixes on either side, which turn their heads towards the mask. At the top are two small, flat handles with openwork scrolls on the inside. The mask shows wear and patina from age. Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8)

Height: 6.1 cm; Mouth diameter: 10 cm; Maximum width: 11.8 cm.; Weight: 206 gr

Provenance: Collection of Tommy Lam, Hong Kong, from 1980.-Previous owner of lot: 48, (Imperial white jade "ziqiang buxi" seal, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736 - 1795)) Auctioned: Important Hong Kong Collection, Tommy Lam - Asian Art. 25 October 2023. Darley Auctions.