A jade figurine carved in the round: a seated Buddha in meditation, eyes lowered, a small bowl held in both hands. Bead-like curls, a robe draped diagonally across the shoulder, scrollwork at the collar and sleeves, and a vivid green polished to a shine.
In four lines
- A seated Buddha in meditation, a bowl held in both hands.
- Carved in the round, scrollwork at the collar and sleeves.
- A vivid green, polished to a shine.
- A bare stone in a single block: it will be weighed whole.
A figure of calm, to keep close by
This jade figurine depicts a seated Buddha, legs crossed beneath the robe, back straight, face peaceful and eyelids lowered. The hands rest one on the other in the lap and hold a small, rounded bowl. Everything in the piece speaks of stillness, and that is what makes it so pleasant to look at.
It belongs on a desk, a shelf, a nightstand or in a reading corner. It is an object you set down and keep, with no purpose other than being there, and it changes the feel of a room.
The detail of a carving in the round
The figurine can be seen from every side. The hair is made of small, tight bead-like curls that rise to the protuberance at the top of the head; the earlobes hang low; a fold of the robe crosses the chest diagonally, edged with a row of beads. Raised scrollwork runs along the collar and the sleeves.
The polish is bright on every surface, right into the folds of the robe, and light glides over the curves of the face, the hands and the knees.
This is not the laughing Buddha
The figure most often sold as a “Buddha”, bare-bellied and laughing, is Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk. This one is his opposite: slender, composed, in meditation, with the signs Buddhist art gives the Buddha himself, the protuberance of the skull, the curls and the long earlobes. Who the figure really is, and the laughing Buddha pendant if Budai is what you are looking for.
A vivid, luminous green
The green is clear and saturated, luminous from one end of the piece to the other; up close, you can only make out a few lighter shades beneath the surface. It is a colour you notice from across the room, on a shelf as on a desk.
Under a lamp, the polished reliefs light up and the hollows darken slightly: that interplay gives shape to the face and the folds of the robe. Telling real jade apart, with no equipment.
Nephrite, a stone that carves finely
Nephrite is the tougher of the two stones called jade: its interwoven fibers can be hollowed and chased without shattering, which is what makes such fine curls and scrolls possible. A figurine does not mind being handled; it fears a fall onto a hard floor, which can chip a relief. Jadeite or nephrite, what sets them apart, and hardness and toughness.
A gift, and caring for it
With no size or taste to guess, a figurine makes an easy gift: for a housewarming, a birthday, or someone who loves objects from Asia. More ideas for giving jade.
A soft, dry cloth is enough for dust, and a very soft brush for the hollows of the curls and scrolls; from time to time, a little lukewarm soapy water, then careful drying. Never ultrasonic cleaners, steam or solvents. Care in detail.
