CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIÈME SIÈCLE

This exquisite pale celadon jade carving depicts a swallow at rest, holding a flowering sprig delicately in its beak. The artisan has rendered the bird with a rounded body and gracefully contoured wings, achieving a harmonious balance between naturalism and refined elegance. The flowering branch curves softly along the swallow’s back, lending the composition a sense of rhythmic vitality. In Chinese symbolism, the pairing of the swallow (yan) with spring blossoms evokes the theme Yan chang chun (“Feast of Everlasting Spring”), expressing auspicious wishes for enduring peace and prosperity.