Rhyton with dragons

A band of archaic design featuring a monster mask decorates this rhyton, an ornate drinking vessel made of gray–green nephrite with brown mottling. The rim bears a border of square meanders. A dragon, carved in high relief, appears on the right, and stares at a flaming pearl. Fungus-shaped clouds support one of the dragon's front claws. Two young dragons frolic on the vessel; one guards the left side, and the other climbs on the rhyton's edge. A small bowl resting on an openwork stand balances the composition. In an attempt to hide the imperfections in the jade, the artisan worked clouds in low relief over those areas.

The two dragonets guarding the mouth of the vessel are a pun on the phrase shoukou ruping, which means to "keep the mouth closed like a bottle"—in other words, to keep a secret by not speaking.