This extremely fine covered bowl was cut from one piece of stone. It scratch tests as jade and ranges in color from almost clear, through several shades of green to nearly black. It is 7-1/4 inch (18.4 cm) in diameter and stands 9-3/4 inch (24.7 cm) tall. It is 12-3/4 inch (30.9 cm) wide across the carrying handles. It is completely carved in relief, with vines, leaves and flowers. The base, which is 4-7/8 inches (12.2 cm) in diameter and 1-5/8 inches (4 cm) high is carved with two sets of vines from a central flower front and back. The bowl is carved in similar fashion with larger flower and vines, with leaves carved as loops to hold four loose carved 3/4 inch rings at the juncture of the two sections. The handles are carved as sprays of flowers, free standing, with two inch rings loose carved from the same piece of stone. The lid is 5-11/16 inches (14.5 cm) in diameter, 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall. It is repousse carved with fish and other good luck symbols between the four oval cartouches, which are relief carved with birds in forest scenes. The finial of the lid is carved as a chrysanthemum with four vines holding loose carved rings around its base. It is amazing to us today that someone could take the time, and it could take years, to carve a tour-de-force such as this. The only stone hard enough to cut jade is diamond. Only royalty could afford to spend the money to make a piece such as this.

Excellent.