An archaistic celadon jade censer, Qing dynasty, 18th / 19th century

This piece embodies the brilliant creativity of Qing craftsmen in its combination of contemporary and archaic motifs. During the 18th and 19th century, jade carvers were encouraged to reinterpret large archaic ritual bronzes into smaller jade vessels. Carved in relief with the archaic taotie motif and flanked by mythical beast handles, this incense burner epitomizes this trend of abstraction and reinterpretation.

While jade incense burners are often unique, their size and decoration depending entirely on the jade stone used to make them, the proportion of this piece, its form and motif are closely related to a pale celadon jade censer but with a splayed foot, sold at Christie's London, 17th May 2012, lot 1274. See also a jade censer of similar form but with loose ring handles, sold in these rooms, 16th-17th September 2014, lot 281.