A CELADON JADE ARCHAISTIC FLATTENED BALUSTER VASE AND COVER 18th/19th centuryPROPERTY OF VARIOUS OWNERSA CELADON JADE ARCHAISTIC FLATTENED BALUSTER VASE AND COVER18th/19th centuryThe flattened shield-shaped body set over a spreading foot and rising to a waisted neck and galleried rim, the sides richly carved in low relief with various designs all against an incised leiwen ground, the central register of each side dominated by a taotie mask with a broad nose rising to pronounced eyebrows over round eyes, fangs descending from the bewhiskered muzzle, the mask bordered above and below by bands of whorls, lappets, and other decorative motifs, the domed cover with sloping sides carved with a band of low-relief ruyi heads against an incised leiwen ground and surmounted by a pommel-form finial, the stone a warm celadon tone, the natural fissures enhanced with russet coloration. 9in (22.8cm) high, excluding cover十八/十九世紀 青白玉仿古扁瓶The design of the present vase is emblematic of the tastes and techniques favored by the Qianlong emperor (r. 1735-1796), which were embraced by imperial and private jade workshops during his reign and in the subsequent century. The composition harmoniously synthesizes motifs drawn from archaic bronze vessels with contemporary Qing elements, and balances bold ornamentation in high relief with subtle, finely incised ground patterns. The overall effect is refined, yet sumptuous. For a related yellow jade covered vase with a nearly identical design, but with a pair of scroll handles at the neck and an inscribed four-character Qianlong mark, from the Qing Court Collection and now in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see Zhang Guangwen, ed., Gugong bowuyuan cang wenwu zhenpin quanji: yuqi, xia [Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jade, III], Beijing, 1996, cat. no. 148.