WHITE JADE GUANYIN ORNAMENT
This ornament is an exquisite example demonstrating the meticulous jade carving skills accomplished in the “Jing” style originated from Beijing that is adopted at carving of human figures and floral motifs as well as eggshell porcelain craftsmanship. This white jade Guanyin ornament has a distinguishing design that draws on the thickness and considerable size of the jade stone, coupling with the use of smooth-flowing lines, to express a serene and solemn religious ambience. Slim lines are also carved with a great delicateness to form the goddess’s gentle facial demeanors to evoke a harmonious blend of stillness and movement.
White jade is typically ground to emphasise its luminous texture. But in this lot, the highlighting polishing technique is employed instead to produce a heightened degree of light reflection, accentuating the varying lengths and thickness of the celestial fabrics and the creases in them.
Presented in this carving is the image of Guanyin holding a ruyi bead, alluding to the fulfilment of all wishes and desires. Considering the immense difficulty of depicting the delicate hand portions of human and divine images, this ornament is a rare piece exemplifying the zenith of jade carving skills by its nuanced portrayal of the goddess’s hands, with their shapes, positions and directions rendered in perfect synchrony.