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Lot Essay
Celebrated for their loyalty and vigilance, badgers (huan) are homophonous with "joy" in Chinese. Rendered in tandem, the paired badgers form a pun for "double joy," symbolizing marital harmony and blissful longevity. Carved with fluid contours and intimate interaction, the present lot stands as a classic embodiment of Qing auspicious iconography. The stone is of a brilliant emerald green tone.
Jadeite was introduced to China from Myanmar during the mid-17th century and was initially reserved for the Qing court. Cherished by emperors and consorts from the Qianlong period through, particularly Empress Dowager Cixi, the stone was celebrated as ‘Imperial Jade’, and held a status superior to all other precious gems. Carved from stone of vibrant green hue and superior translucency, the present pendant displays the refined execution and quintessential hallmarks of Qing court craftsmanship. It reflects the artistic tenor of imperial jadeite ornaments through both material and techniques, compare a dragon-head openwork hairpin in the Shenyang Palace Museum, and a related example sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 April 1996, lot 61 (fig. 1).
While the ‘double badger' motif is well-documented in jade, examples executed in jadeite are exceptionally rare. For a related white jade 'double badger' group, see an example in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei, collection no.: guyu009675N (fig. 2). Another white jade carving of this subject is illustrated in Virtuous Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar's Table, Hong Kong, 2007, p.179, no. 103. For jadeite examples, one can be found in the Capital Museum, Beijing. A closely related jadeite 'double badger' pendant, carved in a more flattened style, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 3097 (fig. 3).
A gemological certificate from the Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory Limited confirms the present lot is natural green jadeite.
Jadeite was introduced to China from Myanmar during the mid-17th century and was initially reserved for the Qing court. Cherished by emperors and consorts from the Qianlong period through, particularly Empress Dowager Cixi, the stone was celebrated as ‘Imperial Jade’, and held a status superior to all other precious gems. Carved from stone of vibrant green hue and superior translucency, the present pendant displays the refined execution and quintessential hallmarks of Qing court craftsmanship. It reflects the artistic tenor of imperial jadeite ornaments through both material and techniques, compare a dragon-head openwork hairpin in the Shenyang Palace Museum, and a related example sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 April 1996, lot 61 (fig. 1).
While the ‘double badger' motif is well-documented in jade, examples executed in jadeite are exceptionally rare. For a related white jade 'double badger' group, see an example in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei, collection no.: guyu009675N (fig. 2). Another white jade carving of this subject is illustrated in Virtuous Treasures: Chinese Jades for the Scholar's Table, Hong Kong, 2007, p.179, no. 103. For jadeite examples, one can be found in the Capital Museum, Beijing. A closely related jadeite 'double badger' pendant, carved in a more flattened style, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2019, lot 3097 (fig. 3).
A gemological certificate from the Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory Limited confirms the present lot is natural green jadeite.