Nephrite Jade on Plum Blossom Zitan Stand (Ming Dynasty)

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), ming or nephrite jade was used extensively as a medium for functional items, jewellery, and animal objects. This piece is made of hetian jade, and is classified as seed nephrite, which is thought of as more desirable than mountain nephrite. Chinese hetian jade is extremely precious, because of over-mining that has led to its near depletion. This jade features a beautiful gradient of black, yellow, and brown and has been deliberately left seemingly untouched, in its natural state it was found. At first glance, the jade seems primitively crude, without the intricate details one expects of jade. However, the jade evokes a form of a bird perching on a rock and overlooking its surroundings. To the right, the jade tips to form a sharp beak and an outline of the bird’s breast follow thereafter. Perhaps it was due to its resemblance to a bird that the sculptor chose to leave it as such. Although it is impossible to pinpoint what species of bird it is due to the rudimentary shape, the choice of a plum blossom zitan carving as its stand offers us a hint to the artist’s intention of representing a magpie. The flowering plum mei hua is identified by the small four to five petals. Due to the plum being the first to bloom in late winter or early spring (even ahead of the highly popular cherry blossoms), it represents the end of winter and start of spring, and in its extension perseverance and hope.