19th Century with possibly earlier elements
Of baluster form, the body blind pierced and cast with a dense network of cloud and fire scrolls and detailed throughout with carp, mask and archaistic roundels; Centrally adorned with two pale green jade carving to either side with recumbent duck within gnarled stems and the neck cast with a band of Qilin head masks combined with oval hardstone 'jewels', the upper stepped and knopped domed cover, cast with bands of scrolling foliage, feather incisions and stiff lotus lappets, and surmounted by a carved pale green jade finial, of oval form with wrythen qilin, the body flanked by two archaistic handles applied with pale jade belt hooks carved with further qilin, the handles terminating at domed upper tiers detailed with a series of hardstone studs, and suspending two pale green jade rings, the lower pedestal base with a fringe of taotie masks ornamented with small pale green jade rings, the lower apron cast with further masks and supported on three qilin scroll supports;
58cm high.