The present carving has retained the natural shape of the original jade pebble. The craftsman has skilfully utilised the stone so as to provide a sense of naturalistic interaction between the pair of ducks. Mandarin ducks (Latin: Aix galericulata), known as Yuan Yang in Chinese, mate for life and are renowned for their attachment to each other, and in Chinese art mandarin ducks have been prolifically adopted to symbolise conjugal bliss and fidelity.