A RARE MOTTLED APPLE GREEN JADEITE CENSER AND COVER, FANGDING, China, Qing dynasty, possibly Qianlong

h cm 19,6

It rests on four tall cylindrical legs finely carved with two cord bands above which stand out taotie masks. The rectangular-section body is adorned with intricate double interlaced cord decorations running along the borders, corners, and the center of each of the four sides. Two openwork handles in the shape of ruyi are carved in relief, while the cover echoes the interlaced cord motif of the body and is surmounted by a finial sculpted as a lion grasping a peony branch in its mouth. The piece is set on a finely carved wooden base featuring a central flower and rope motifs that recall those of the vessel itself.It is very rare to find a jadeite vessel decorated with a rope motif. This ornamental element originated in the Neolithic period, when cords were wrapped around vessels for practical purposes, and it had already become a decorative motif in antiquity (see the Warring States bronze vessel at the Palace Museum, Beijing, inventory no. 新00076872, link) and was revived during the Qianlong period, as the emperor was an ardent admirer of archaistic style. This censer, which combines a Shang form with a Neolithic motif, would reflect the Emperor’s typical taste.
Jade objects featuring rope decoration were produced during this period, as evidenced by the green jade vase and snuff bottle at the Palace Museum, Beijing, inventory nos. 故00092702 (link) and 故00093252(link), respectively.
清  翡翠狮纽绳纹方鼎（可能乾隆年间 ）
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