Jade Sculptures

Jade has been the most valued carving stone in China for longer than bronze has been cast anywhere. The reason is physical rather than symbolic: jade is exceptionally tough, so it can be worked into shapes that would shatter in marble, and it takes a soapy, slightly translucent polish that lets light sit just under the surface rather than bouncing off it.

That toughness also makes it slow. Jade cannot be chiselled in the way stone can, only abraded, so a piece is ground rather than cut and the work takes far longer than its size suggests. Every piece here is carved by hand from genuine jade, and the colour and translucency vary from block to block, so no two are alike.

The range covers traditional Chinese subjects, decorative vessels and abstract forms, generally at the modest scale the material dictates: three quarters of the collection sits between 30cm and 79cm. Browse the neighbouring stone work in marble sculptures and statues and the wider range in decorative sculptures.

These are interior pieces. Jade is durable but the polish is what you are paying for, and outdoor exposure will dull it over time. Place a piece where light can reach it from the side or behind, since the translucency is most of the effect and disappears under flat frontal light. See indoor sculptures and statues.

Every jade sculpture we make is carved to order by our artists, designed in Birmingham and made in our worldwide studios. Standard production takes around three to four weeks, and we offer free worldwide shipping. Get in touch if you would like a specific subject commissioned.