12-Piece Chinese Carved Jade-Type Hardstone Pendan

Updated September 18, 2026

A visually compelling collection of twelve carved, pierced and polished hardstone and stone-like pendants and amuletic ornaments, distinguished by Chinese-inspired archaistic imagery, extensive openwork carving, auspicious animal motifs and richly figured ornamental materials. At the heart of the collection are five pale celadon-green translucent plaques whose appearance recalls traditional Chinese jade carving, including elaborately pierced compositions incorporating stylized dragons, phoenix or bird forms, scrolling foliage, geometric meander borders and archaistic ornament. Several are substantially worked on both faces, as demonstrated by the accompanying front and reverse photographs, lending the carvings an unusually sculptural quality and allowing the designs to be appreciated from either side.<br><br>These celadon-colored carvings draw upon a decorative vocabulary closely associated with historic Chinese jade and hardstone objects, in which dragons, birds, symmetrical openwork, pierced suspension holes and archaistic geometric patterns carried both ornamental and symbolic importance. Their compact plaque format and tactile carving make them particularly appealing to collectors of Chinese jade-style pendants, hardstone carvings, Asian jewelry, amulets and small scholarly or decorative objects.<br><br>Complementing the green plaques are seven contrasting pieces selected for the expressive qualities of their materials and forms. These include a finely figured fan-form pendant displaying dramatic cream, brown and black landscape-like veining; a pierced floral or rosette-form ornament; a cross-form pendant; two circular picture-stone amulets, one centered by a substantial aperture and visually evocative of the ancient Chinese bi disc tradition; and two deep reddish-brown aventurescent ornaments of goldstone-type material. One of the latter is carved as a striking symmetrical pair of confronting stylized creatures or birds, while the second takes the form of a pierced circular medallion with scrolling decoration.<br><br>Of particular decorative interest are the naturally patterned brown and cream stones, whose mineral veining creates miniature landscape effects reminiscent of those prized in picture jasper and other ornamental lapidary materials. The interplay between these organic geological patterns and the more formal Chinese-style carvings gives the collection substantial visual variety while retaining a strong amuletic and antiquarian character.<br><br>The group will appeal across several established collecting categories, including Chinese jade and hardstone carvings, jade pendants, archaistic Asian ornaments, dragon and phoenix jewelry, carved amulets, openwork pendants, bi discs, picture jasper, lapidary objects and vintage-style Asian decorative arts. Offered together, the twelve pieces form a notably attractive study collection of carved ornamental stone forms and materials.<br><br>The pale celadon-green material has not been subjecte

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