Pair Of 20th Century Chinese Carved Bowenite Lidded Urns.

This nice pair of carved lidded urns are made form Bowenite which is considered a semiprecious stone and thought to resemble jade. They were carved in the mid 20th century and come with accompanying rosewood stands of fine Chinese design. They are centered on the body front and back with singular Toe Tia masks recessed into lozenged shaped areas. The mask a stylized representation of a mythical beast has been used in China since ancient times. The urns are designed as a flattened rectilinear baluster typical of the late 18th and 19th centuries found in jade carving and in porcelain of the time. Running down the sides of the urns are raised and open work ribbons divided by handles with elephant heads. From the handles are loose suspended rings. The stone is very clear and uniform with only very slight color changes or inclusions. This makes them very translucent and reflective.