Chinese Jade Table Screen

Chinese table top screen carved in white jade (nephrite) dating from the 1900s.

The screen tablet is an object of rumination in the scholar’s study, this carving can be considered an ‘outsider’ version.

Such screens were seldom created before the Qianlong period, due to the rarity of large, flawless, and highly-translucent pieces of jade.

Typically carved on both sides, this piece is carved only on one side, tranquility through a few strokes of 山水 (“shan shui”) expression.

Nothing is dense but all is composed in one breath.

Its ‘mountain & river’ is simple, more grounded than lofty, its human characters not detached from ours.

Throughout the carving, white space is preserved materially, what is carved is superbly understated.

Because we reach understanding through an unforced/untrained eye, there is a greater sense of continuity in this present screen over many of its famous predecessors.

The two figures are attendants, everyday folk caught in their tasks, in this case carrying provisions and the mast (reparations?) to the boat at the rear.

The mountains take up centrestage, the pine tree on the left and mundane on the lower right.

The boat and house fall to the background, instead two slight bridges convey a greater sense of life; from being understated the whole panel is Zen.

The sense of harmony confronts the viewer just to exist in this continuum, lesser its story.

Distinct from historical thematic scenes of immortals, scholars, or literati refinement, its uncluttered scenery is uncommon, a breath of fresh air in these typically compact carvings.

Most nephrite display pieces depicting scenery are almost always in pebble/boulder form; it is extremely rare to find them in a table screen of this quality.

The glossy polished stone is of even milky-white color, exceptionally white, on a wood stand carved in openwork scroll matching the jade carving’s crown.

Not “Travellers in the Mountains” and not classical in the strict sense, this is the jade mountains and rivers observed by a quiet eye, alive, not archaic.

Despite its skilled mastery, the contemplative nature of this subtle piece leads one to conclude it is not too old, being nowhere ancient even if the last of its type in the eyes of Time.

And it is this carver’s artistry that will appreciate with Time, as expression does not pastiche the primitive art he found there.

The carving measures 10.5″ tall and 6.75″ wide, with an 11mm depth to the jade.

The whole screen comes to 16.5″ tall and 8.75″ wide.