Jade on the Shells

 

 

I got these very attractive, tiny pieces of antique jade from old Shanghai many years ago.

 

Lao keng or old mine jadeite



Although amazingly thin, each piece is carved with intricate pattern of coin, flower or knot. The color is an attractive emerald green and is likely to be lao keng or old mine jadeite.

 

Coin shaped buttons



 

Carved as flowers



 

 

Eternal knot

Each piece is razor thin, the thinness almost  like jade  'to airy thinness beat...' . The largest flower measures 2 cm across.

Razor thin, "like gold to airy thinness beat..."

 

I am not sure what function they served in antiquity but I guess it must be to do with ladies accessories, be it hairpin, brooch, coronet or even as inlays for powder/jewellery boxes.

     



Jade on the Shells



For my present pleasure, I stuck them on scallop shells from my favourite sushi place, Itacho Sushi, to come up with this rustic Jade on the Shells display.