Vibrant Green Jade Carving

Jadeite jade carving of a pair of Mandarin ducks nestled under lotus pond scene.

This high quality vintage carving is a 20th century work of art.

The openwork is wholly thorough, carved masterly through diagonal ‘thick-thin’ quaternions.

On the vibrant green side, the ducks are finely carved (high relief) while above the bright lotus leaf is carved in low relief.

This effect is opposite at the other scenic side, the top exploding into finely carved flora (high relief) and below the coarser outlines of lotus root.

Carving in balance can be simple, or complex, as this is.

The stem and flora work is plush, the color of old, translucent jadeite (or ‘celadon’) carved into stone realism.

This one color background does not shy – although it is the intense emerald-green that is immediately vibrant, the appreciation is in the eye rendering finer details.

Away from the still spread of green, it feels as if every inch of flora material will tremble slightly.

Because this is a small carving, its openwork is a delta of light and shadow, the flora in its compactness flourishes, perhaps the soloist in this carving.

The crown is a small bird, and there is another bird midsection, but like the ducks the fauna seems to be only passing through.

These vintage high end carvings are very hard to source now, where the stone is nowhere coarse, the carving highly conscientious.

Shaped like a heart, there is a wonderful ‘golden ratio’ asymmetry to this carving, you will discover how every angle is honored, why that commands its value.

Consider the video for the intensity of its green tone.

Its relatively bigger wooden base continues the lotus theme, though the whole composition is still small enough as an objet d’art.

The jadeite carving measures 11 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm.

The whole ornament measures 20.5 x 11.5 x 8 cm.