with a flattened pear-shaped body resting on a splayed foot centred with a grooved band, the upper section of the vessel worked in low relief with a frieze enclosing a taotie mask on each main side, interrupted by a pair of loop handles, each resting atop a mythical beast mask, the stepped cover with a straight band detailed with scrollwork and surmounted by a finial, the lustrous warm yellow stone accentuated with faint russet patches

Hôtel Drouot, Paris, Rémy le Fur & Associés, 13th December 2013, lot 55.

The rim of the cover with three bruised areas (two with associated flakes). There is minute nibbling along the rim, foot and extremities of the vase.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The luminous golden hue of this precious stone is celebrated through the simple hu form and restrained use of decoration. Cleverly utilising the russet inclusions by gathering them at the neck and cover of the vessel, the carver also draws guides the viewer’s eye along the gentle swelling form, enabling a full appreciation of the piece. In style this vase reflects the strong interest in archaism during the Qianlong period, as its form and decoration are derived from archaic bronzes. Jade hu vases of this type are found with bands of various archaistic designs against a plain ground; see a white jade example with a swing handle, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Gugong bowuyuan cangpin daxi: yuqi bian [Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade], vol. 10: Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 57. A related hu vase, but without handles or a cover, attributed to the Song dynasty, from the collection of Baron Jacques d’Adelsward-Fersen, was sold in these rooms, 2nd December 2016, lot 5568.