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this small piece of jade comes in pale-green to white tone and has not symmetrical shape with 2.6 cm long.
by the quality of stone and style of carving, i suppose this piece maybe folk-arts at Qing period.

i also got some curiosity...

1. Is the etched line indicated modern tool mark or not?

2. i have seen there is corrosion on the skin (blurred etched line).
Is it happened from heavy wearing?
Is it looked naturally?

3. Is this pendant really a shape of Pelican bird or else? and what does it mean?


thank a lot for sharing your comment.
regard,
senztone

senztone, the rough crosscuts, unpolished, shows that this is a very modern piece.
Ernest

It could be a pelican. Given the crude carving, it could also be a goose, duck, stork, swan, or... It is what you want it to be.

Cheers,
Stan

This is a very common Qing nephrite swan or geese in the form of a lock.

This can be many things, but Qing dynasty...give me a break !! The second picture tells all.
Ernest

I had exposure to thousands of items like that over 37 years ago. Look at the size, it is a very small toggle in the form of a spiritual lock. Most of these toggles were used like beads to accentuate a silver chain. They usually were not carved and polished as fine as the larger fondling pieces or displaying pieces. Look at the signs of wear and the dark markings that was caused by friction with the original silver fastener of the chain that it was on.

The problem with most white jade experts is that they always expect to match what is in their mind the fine detail and high polish with every jade they see. They often miss the point that the carving techniques and polishing of archaic jades of different periods can not be measured by the standards of Qing jades. Not every jade is of high polish and finely carved. Many had gone through daily wear with other jades, carnelians, metal chains, and the original surface gloss is no longer there.

hi friends,

thank you for all of your comments.

Umm...Ernest, your point ---unpolished---

after i compared it with other pieces, i have to agree with you that it's quite looked dull.
i also got the same idea, stone bead or/pendant that has been worn regularly will has patina on the skin and soft lustre as well.
so, the skin corrosion isn't come from heavy wearing but sanded.

i have examined the etched lines again under appropriated light, i saw thin pararel lines within.

your point ---the rough crosscuts---
i think the etched line maybe too thick, right?

for Stan and wingchuntaiji, i want it to be a pelican bird because it have a long beak.
unfortunately, the stone was not found at Qing period. ~_~'


regards,
senztone

Definitely not sanding down in modern time! This piece has never received a well-enough polish since day one when it was made.

Items like that were available massively for a few dollars each around the peak time of jade in the early 1970's.

It is possible to be a Kingfisher. But items like that were more expressed as a water fowl such as a duck or goose....

This piece appears that it had been heavily cleaned with detergent in an attempt to remove the dirty stains therefore it has a dehydrated look on the surface.

hi Wingchuntaiji,

thank you very much for your informative experience.
i got this piece about 10 years ago and i have found this style of white jade most happened
at Qing period...however, i noticed modern tool marks on the etched line.

Qing period is between AD.1644-AD.1912.

Bill has posted in the Subject:Chinese Turtle Statue
...1960s when manual tools were replaced by high speed electrical carving tools.

you said...
Items like that were available massively for a few dollars each around the peak time of jade in the early 1970's.

i think i got my conclusion.
hopefully a next piece of jade i will show you is an authentic one.


regards,
senztone

I actually think that the work is not modern. The reason that a large quantity of these were available during the late 1960's and early 1970's was because of the Canton Spring Commodity Fair. My dad had to attend these Commodity Fair and bid for items by lots of tens and hundreds pieces.

I am very certain that this is not a modern piece even without seeing it in person!

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