Jade Carving Ladies Under a Chinese Parasol Tree
The jade carving Ladies Under a Chinese Parasol Tree was created from a piece of white jade with a yellowish-brown crust during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.
In the jade carving, a moon door divides the yard into two parts. The front side of the carving depicts the scene outside: To the right of the door, a lady stands in the shade of a Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex) beside grotesque rocks while holding ganoderma fungus (a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture) in her hands. The back side of the carving depicts the scene inside: On the left are banana trees, a stone table, and stone stools, and on the right is another lady gracefully holding a vase. The moon door is semi-closed, with light penetrating through the crack. It seems that the two ladies on both sides of the door were chatting through the opening.
The jade carving is skillfully designed from a piece of jade leftover after making a bowl. The craftsman ingeniously used its original shape and color to create a moon door in the hollowed-out center and the tree leaves with its yellowish-brown crust, creating a natural artistic masterpiece.
Emperor Qianlong, who was obsessed with jade, cherished the hard-won jade materials and once decreed that leftover jade materials be recycled for reuse. He loved this piece of jade carving in particular and composed a poem on its bottom.
This jade carving perfectly manifests the charm of ingenious designs.
桐荫仕女玉山
桐荫仕女玉山为清乾隆年间的玉雕作品,由黄褐色带皮白玉制成。
玉山以月亮门为界,将庭院隔为内外。院外为玉雕正面,门右侧一位仕女手持灵芝而立,周围环绕桐荫和假山。院内为玉雕背面,背面左侧雕有芭蕉、石桌和石凳,右侧仕女手捧宝瓶,身姿款款。月亮门半开半合,虚掩遮映间透着光亮,好似两位仕女可以透过门缝对视交谈,给人以无限遐想。
玉山构思极为巧妙。用材原为雕去玉碗后的余料,玉匠巧妙地利用其形状特征,结合俏色工艺,即利用玉石原色,以中部空洞为门,以四周褐色玉皮为桐叶、芭蕉,创作出浑然天成的艺术杰作。嗜玉成癖的乾隆皇帝,对来之不易的玉料格外珍惜,曾下旨要求制作玉器的余料要加以利用,他也因此对这件玉器情有独钟,作诗一首,刻在玉器的底部。
这件巧夺天工的玉山,向世人完美地诠释了设计与创意的魅力。