Vibrant Dark Green Jadeite

Fine jade pendant set with carved dark green jadeite jade and diamonds in 18k.

The carving is an intense green with vibrant figural parts.

Intensely saturated, the jade’s tone is not the blackness of dark omphacite jade.

The latter requires a backlight to summon its green, this pendant’s green is immediate, lush, and extremely rich.

We distinguish this as an uncommon quality to dark green carvings, and an elevated material in dark green jadeite.

The green is actually mottled but only visible on close up, it is this natural striation that gives the dark jade its rich personality.

Depicted through a pond theme of three frogs amidst sprigs of lingzhi and ruyi vines, its carving is masterly.

The figural outlines – frogs, orbs, lingzhi – are so sharply delineated the carving feels surmounted, with a plush dimensionality.

The position of the three frogs are defined by the three peaks of vibrancy, injecting into the scene its novel action.

Conscientious carving is appreciated when material is precious, the lack of openwork has amazingly not close off light into the dark green carving.

Everything relies on the temperament of the proud material, where nothing can be or should be chiseled or polished off.

The carving + material duo satisfies the objet d’art ideal, the back plain polished.

The carving measures 50mm by 35mm.

This is an old archetypal carving, its bail added in modern times.