Jade was introduced to China in the Ming Dynasty, and was later favored by Empress Dowager Cixi. It was promoted and developed in the late Qing Dynasty and can be regarded as a trend of the times.

For this reason, in the Palace Museum today, we can see many jade objects left over from the Qing Dynasty, each of which is exquisite.

What I want to share with you today is jade ornaments full of artistic atmosphere!

【Green Lying Cow】

This ornament is a fine piece of art, with all four limbs bent under the abdomen in a lying position. A small piece of the original stone skin is retained on the bull's head and horns, and the yellow and green contrast perfectly complement each other.

Although the overall craftsmanship is not complicated, the texture of the cow is clearly visible, and the expression is lifelike.

【Emerald carving of figures and mountain scenery】

In fact, it is a small rockery carved from jade, which uses deep carving, relief carving and other techniques to depict a leisurely mountain scene.

The old men talking in front of the pavilion, the boy carrying a hoe and preparing to go down the mountain, plus the gurgling water, flowers, birds, insects and animals, it is so pleasant!

【Emerald carving flower and bird pattern flower vase】

It is also a beautiful piece of art, with the overall shape of a tree stump, and the yellow-brown hollow carvings in some parts to look like peony branches, with birds standing on the tops of the branches.

Flower vases are a bit similar to our current vases. They can be used as decorative items and have practical value, and things can be placed inside.

【Emerald Carved Begonia Flower Vase】

Huagu was originally a vessel for holding wine, but later its practicality gradually declined and it became a decoration.

Like the vase in the picture above, it is obviously much simpler than other ornaments.

The remaining original leather color has a bit of antique charm of rust on ancient bronze.

【Green cabbage style flower vase】

The color of this jade ornament is obviously much inferior, and it is somewhat "dull and colorless", so that people subconsciously ignore its exquisite carving.

The plump leaves with a wrinkled feel, standing tall and straight, with distinct roots and stems, are truly lifelike!

I think only the Imperial Household Department of the Qing Dynasty, which gathered all the skilled craftsmen, could have produced such exquisite works!

After admiring the jadeite in the Palace Museum, let’s take a look at modern jadeite ornaments.

[Produced by Jinyumantang·Haxuan]

It can be considered a work of turning waste into treasure. The jade under the mantis is visibly dry and astringent, and has basically no value.

According to normal practice, it would have been thrown away, but the jade carver did the opposite and carved it into a piece of rotten wood, which made the color of the mantis more intense and bright, which was a real ingenuity.

[Sanhezhang·Produced by Haxuan]

The three-in-one combination is Shen, Zi and Chen, which respectively correspond to the monkey, rat and dragon in the traditional Chinese zodiac culture, implying mutual prosperity.

The chain carving technique was used to carve an interlocking movable jade chain between the three seals, which was extremely difficult!

In today's jade market, it is actually rare to see large-sized ornaments.

There are two main reasons: First, today's jade resources are becoming increasingly scarce , and the raw materials suitable for making ornaments are also decreasing.

Secondly, ornaments are more risky , with high investment costs and long cash-out cycles, unlike bracelets, egg-shaped beads and other products that can circulate quickly in the market!

But then again, although the market for ornaments is not very hot, it is still irreplaceable!

After all, for jade carvers, the creativity of ornaments is incomparable to that of pendants!

At the same time, the artistic value of the ornament itself also allows it to still occupy a place in today's sluggish environment and not be eliminated by the times!