Fine Highly Translucent Carved Nephrite Pendant Brooch

An absolutely stunning, highly translucent white nephrite jade (mutton fat) hand-carved pendant. The 89.71 x 54.77mm pendant has been carved by a master lapidary artist to depict a folding paper fan. It's a wonderful and original idea; I've never seen another carving quite like it. And the white nephrite jade is so fine, it lends itself perfectly to being rendered as a fan; the high translucence makes the fan glow endlessly. The surface of the nephrite has almost a pearly sheen. The fan features a simple silver bail and 24" silver chain. This striking, luminous carved-from-the-moon fan...

The true beauty of this carved jadeite jade pendant is difficult to capture in photographs; more difficult still to describe in words. Carved by hand in the form of an entangled squash blossom, the jade stone is highly translucent; the light lavender jade is complemented by pale yellow. When light strikes the stone at an angle and not from behind, the surface of the jade displays...

Elegant, rare, and dating to the late Qing period (circa 1890s), this hand-carved nearly colorless white nephrite plaque has been etched on both sides. One one, the Chinese mythological figure known as Zhang Guo Lao is depicted riding a mule. On the opposite side, a magpie sits on a branch of cherry blossoms. The magpie is associated with intelligence. The carving is breathlessly simple and excellent; the work executed -of course- without the aid of electricity or modern tools. Measuring 42.54mm x 29.92mm, the plaque has a hole drilled through the center, which is original to the piece. A silver bail is threaded through the hole and a pair of beads -black jade and coral- reside at the bottom. The jade plaque hands from a 1920s silver chain that is 32" in length. Prior to the discovery of and appreciation for the very fine green jadeite from Burma, colorless, opaque, pure white nephrite jade from the Northern mountains of China was the most revered jade; the original "imperial jade, as only members of the royal court could wear or even touch it. Most of what is commercially sold today as "mutton fat...

Ornate, exuberant goldsmithing showcases about 1.20 carats of 42 glittering antique rose-cut diamonds and approximately .85 carats of Old European cut stones in this magnificent, bar...