Chinese Jade Devil's Work Necklace

This dramatic necklace is an example of the art form of carving and piercing jade that Chinese often refer to as 'the devil's work'.

The necklace is composed of five nephrite jade carvings connected by a series of balls and circular links covered with 1mm glass beads.

[click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RidgewoodEntrust]

The four identical carvings are called 'flower baskets'. For each flower basket one piece of jade has been pierced and carved into three sections that are interlocked and move freely.

In The Collectors Book of Jade (1978), the Chu's say "this elaborate open work...was commonly referred to as devil's work because it was hardly possible for human hands". They estimate it would take almost a week to carve and polish a single ring. My estimate is that this necklace represents at least a month of work.

As always with Chinese ornaments, craft is only half the story...the flower baskets are symbols of abundance; the red of the beads is the color associated with wealth, summer and weddings.

The nephrite pendant at the the center is a vase filled with flowers. In Chinese the words vase and peace sound identical so the vase is a symbol for peace.

The vase in combination with various flowers and fruits carries wishes for many kinds of peace...for the New Year; for a successful career or for a fruitful marriage. Here the two lotus blossoms in the vase suggest the wish for harmony, longevity and eternal love.

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Chinese Silver Tourmaline Bracelet

One of the joys of collecting jewelry from the other side of the globe is the difference in style and techniques. The second pleasure for me is coming across stones not usually seen in our North American pieces.

[click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RidgewoodEntrust]

This bracelet, c1910, has at center a 19c tourmaline carving of two fat birds sitting on a branch feasting on fruit. The filigree setting has been custom made to fit this stone and the delicate silver work reminds me of the finest Italian lace.

I once showed a bracelet like this to a friend, an appraiser, who also makes custom jewelry...he turned it over, looked at the construction and said "300 hours to make this...how do you put a value on that?"

Tourmaline, unlike jade, is not native to China. My gemstone reference says that the Dutch brought the first tourmaline to Europe from Ceylon in 1703. Other trade routes would have brought this stone from Ceylon to China.

We know that tourmaline was highly valued by the Chinese. It is one of the six stones that only the Imperial family was permitted to use in their court necklaces.

I like to think that chubby birds enjoying their feast is a subtle symbol of marital bliss.

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Chinese Chicken Bone Jade Necklace

Several sources state that Nephrite Jade which has been through a fire or buried for a long time will develop an unusual surface calcification, losing color and becoming a chalky white...like these beads.

[click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RidgewoodEntrust]

According to the Collector's Book of Jade, by Arthur and Grace Chu, this jade, which is called 'chicken bone', is highly valued by the Chinese because it is usually very old.

But, the Chu's go on to say "many Nephrite objects of low quality jade were deliberately burned to create fake archaic pieces."

I have been unable to find any sources that suggest a way to determine if Chicken Bone Jade has been faked...I would love to hear from anyone with more information.


This necklace is composed of 62 beads, hand carved, with the Fu symbol and pierced 18 times.

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Chinese Carved Silver Four Ling Bracelet

When I look at the bracelet I hear my art history professor in my head... "classic design...balance...great proportions and execution". The size and weight (54 grams) suggest to me that is was made for a man rather than a woman.

[click on images to enlarge ..... photos by: RidgewoodEntrust]

This is a 19th century silver bracelet...carved with rich symbolism that depicts thousands of years of Chinese cultural and spiritual traditions.

The Shou long life symbol at the center is flanked by classic Chinese images of the four miraculous 'Ling Creatures': the tortoise, dragon, phoenix and qilin.

The Shou symbol can be depicted in many ways; there are hundreds of ways to write longevity.

On one side of the Shou symbol are the tortoise and dragon, on the other the phoenix and qilin.




The tortoise is the hero of many Chinese legends; always female, represents the North, winter, longevity, endurance and death. This tortoise is shown with the Lingzhi Fungus which is a wish fulfilling plant and grows on the islands where the eight Taoist Immortals live.

Next to the tortoise is the dragon; representing the East, male, spring, power and virility.

The Chinese phoenix represents the South; summer, warmth, happiness and fertility. In combination, the dragon and the phoenix can represent the married state.

The qilin represents the West, autumn, wisdom, cosmic harmony and fulfillment.

If this bracelet seems familiar, RidgewoodEntrust has adopted it as the logo for their website and Trocadero Gallery.

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