Jade Decoration- Cabbage-國寶之一白菜

Size: 8cm X 5 cm
This jade carving is modeled after a Chinese cabbage, with distinct, layered leaves and clearly visible leaf veins, rendered in a highly realistic manner. Cabbage-shaped jade carvings were extremely popular during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912 CE), particularly from the mid to late Qing period (late 18th to 19th century). They were often used to symbolize "purity and integrity" (qing bai, a pun on "cabbage") or "hundredfold wealth" (bai cai, a pun on "wealth"), commonly serving as display pieces or gifts, especially favored by the imperial court and literati.
Material and Coloration: The jade carving is made of white jade, displaying a warm, milky white hue with brown and red staining on the leaves, consistent with the characteristics of Hetian white jade. Qing dynasty jade artifacts frequently used Hetian jade, often leveraging the material’s natural colors to depict the green leaves (qing) and white body (bai) of the cabbage. Although this piece lacks green coloring, the staining may be natural or artificially applied.
Craftsmanship: The carving technique is exquisite, with the cabbage leaves’ layers and vein details rendered realistically, showcasing advanced carving skills. This type of biomimetic carving was prominent in Qing dynasty jade artifacts, where artisans excelled at incorporating natural forms into jade, focusing on detail and symbolic meaning.
Biomimetic Patterns: The jade carving features the natural texture of cabbage leaves, with distinct layered segments and detailed veins, a biomimetic design aimed at replicating the natural form of the cabbage.
No Additional Motifs: Beyond the natural texture of the cabbage, the carving lacks additional animal, cloud, or geometric motifs, focusing on realism, which aligns with the Qing dynasty’s biomimetic carving style.
The overall design prioritizes realism, relying on the form and texture to convey the natural beauty of the cabbage. This reflects the Qing dynasty’s emphasis on symbolism and meaning, as the cabbage symbolizes "purity and integrity" (qing bai) or "hundredfold wealth" (bai cai), a common auspicious motif in the Qing period.
 
 
這件玉雕以白菜為主題，葉片層次分明，形態逼真，葉脈清晰可見。白菜形玉雕在清代（公元1644年至1912年）極為流行，尤其是清中期至晚期（約18世紀末至19世紀），常用來象徵「清白」或「百財」（諧音），常作為陳設品或禮物，特別受到宮廷和文人的喜愛。
材質與色澤：玉雕使用白玉製作，呈現溫潤的乳白色，葉片部分有褐色和紅色沁色，這與和田白玉的特徵相符。清代玉器常用和田玉，且常利用玉料的自然色澤來表現白菜的綠葉（青色）和白身（白色），此件雖無綠色部分，但沁色可能是自然形成或人工渲染。
製作工藝：玉雕的雕刻技術精湛，白菜葉片的層次感和葉脈細節表現得非常逼真，顯示出高超的雕刻技藝。這種仿生雕刻在清代玉器中尤為突出，清代玉工擅長將自然形態融入玉器，注重細節和象徵意義。
仿生紋：玉雕表面刻有白菜葉片的自然紋理，葉片層次分明，葉脈細膩，屬於仿生設計，旨在模仿白菜的自然形態。
無其他紋飾：除了白菜本身的自然紋理外，玉雕未見額外的動物紋、雲紋或幾何紋，注重寫實風格，這與清代玉器的仿生雕刻風格相符。
玉雕整體設計以寫實為主，通過形體和紋理表現白菜的自然美感，符合清代玉器中對寓意和象徵的重視。白菜寓意「清白」（清廉）或「百財」（財富），是清代常見的吉祥題材。