material:chicken blood jade

origin:Shanghai

date of creation:1934

Jade (Yu in Chinese pinyin) was defined as beautiful stones by Xu Zhen (about 58-147) in Shuo Wen Jie Zi, the first Chinese dictionary. The history of jade is as long as the Chinese civilization. The Chinese love jade because of not only its beauty, but also more importantly its culture, meaning and humanity, as Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) said there are 11 De (virtue) in jade. Jade symbolizes beauty, nobility, perfection, constancy, power, and immortality in Chinese culture.

The wise have likened jade to virtue. For them, its polish and brilliancy represent the whole of purity; its perfect compactness and extreme hardness represent the sureness of intelligence; its angles, which may not cut, although they seem sharp, represent justice; the pure and prolonged sound, which it gives forth when one strikes it, represents music. Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws, always showing themselves through the transparency, call to mind sincerity; its iridescent brightness represents heaven; its admirable substance, born of mountain and of water, represents the earth. Used alone without ornamentation it represents chastity. The price that the entire world attaches to it represents the truth. To support these comparisons, the Book of Verse says: "When I think of a wise man, his merits appear to be like jade."'

Thus jade is really special in Chinese culture, also as the Chinese saying goes "Gold has a value; jade is invaluable."

Because jade stands for beauty, grace and purity, it has been used in many Chinese idioms or phrases to denote beautiful things or people, such as Yu Jie Bing Qing (pure and noble), Ting Ting Yu Li (fair, slim and graceful) and Yu Nv (beautiful girl). The Chinese character Yu is often used in Chinese names.

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Rich Artistic Connotation & Historical Background:

This artwork is a beautifully crafted red wood carving depicting a pair of horses and chickens.

This combination of horses and chickens holds special symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, representing harmony, prosperity, and happiness.

The color red in traditional Chinese culture symbolizes good fortune, passion, and vitality, while chickens are considered symbols of diligence, kindness, and loyalty.

This art form showcases the exquisite skills of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and the reverence for living creatures in nature.

In this artwork, we can see the superb carving techniques such as delicate lines, vivid expressions, and intricate details.

These elements come together to create an impressive scene that demonstrates the artist's attention to detail and pursuit of beauty.

Additionally, this artwork has high collectible value as it represents a part of Chinese traditional culture and showcases the unique charm of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

In conclusion, this artwork draws people's attention with its exquisite design, rich symbolism, and superb craftsmanship.

It is not only a beautiful decorative piece but also a representation and expression of culture.