CHINESE ARCHAISTIC CARVED JADE COVERED CENSER

CHINESE ARCHAISTIC CARVED JADE COVERED CENSER / VESSEL, 20TH C., SHANG / ZHOU DYNASTY STYLE CARVED FROM MOTTLED CELADON-GREEN AND GREY JADE / HARDSTONE WITH EXTENSIVE INDUCED CALCIFICATION, NATURAL VEINING, AND ARTIFICIAL BROWN DERMAL PATINATION. MAIN BODY: FLAT-OVAL HOLLOW RECEPTACLE RAISED ON A SOLID RECTILINEAR FOOT, CARVED IN LOW RELIEF WITH ARCHAIC TAOTIE MASKS ENCLOSED BY GEOMETRIC THUNDER-MEANDER (LEIWEN) BANDS; FLANKED AT ONE END BY A PROMINENT PHOENIX BIRD FORMING AN UNPIERCED PROW WITH SPREAD WINGS, AND AT THE OPPOSITE END BY A STRIDING BIFURCATED-TAIL CHILONG DRAGON FORMING A SOLID LOOP HANDLE. COVER: FITTED STEPPED RECTILINEAR LID RIMMED IN ARCHAISTIC MEANDERS, SURMOUNTED BY A RECUMBENT MYTHICAL BEAST MEASURES APPROX. 7.5 IN HIGH, 10 X 2.25 IN CONDITION NOTE: MINOR REPAIR TO TAIL OF THE LID'S BEAST