#decorative object

The Jadeite Cabbage is one of the most iconic treasures of China’s Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 AD), renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and symbolic meaning.

Carved from a single block of jadeite, the sculpture transforms an ordinary vegetable into a masterpiece of art, blending natural beauty with intricate detail.

Its lifelike layers of leaves, blending white and green hues of the stone, demonstrate the carver’s exceptional skill in working with jade a material prized in Chinese culture for its durability and spiritual significance.

Closer inspection reveals more than just a cabbage: nestled among the leaves are a locust and a katydid, meticulously carved to appear almost alive.

These insects are rich in symbolism, representing fertility, abundance, and purity.

The cabbage itself, pronounced baicai in Chinese, is a homophone for “hundred wealth,” making the piece an auspicious emblem of prosperity and blessing.

Traditionally, it is believed the work was created as part of a dowry for a Qing Dynasty consort, further reinforcing its ties to marriage and family life.

Today, the Jadeite Cabbage is housed in Taiwan’s National Palace Museum, where it remains a highlight for visitors worldwide.

More than just a decorative object, it is celebrated as a cultural icon that embodies the artistry, symbolism, and refinement of Qing Dynasty craftsmanship.

Hermann Gradl (designer)

Villeroy & Boch Keramische Werke (manufacturer) & Orivit AG (manufacturer)

Art Nouveau wall fountain

Large Japanese Carved Ivory Okimono of a Human Skull,

Meiji period (1868-1912) circa 1900,

A Superb and Unusually Large Japanese Carved Ivory Okimono of a Human Skull entwined with snakes and rats.

Size: 13cm high, 14cm deep, 12.5cm wide – 5 ins high, 5½ ins deep, 4¾ ins wide.

English author Roald Dahl, master of the mischievous tale, and his wife, actress Patricia Neal, spent more than fifteen years restoring their Georgian farmhouse in Buckinghamshire, England. The Sitting Room testifies to the writer’s passion for antique furniture and eccentric curios and paintings.

Hermann Obrist (design), Johann Zugschwerdt, Reinhold Kirsch (manufacturer)

Jugendstil chest

Zsolnay

“bluebell”,  vase

Wilhelm Schiller & Sohn

majolica galleon-form centerpiece

Germany