Chinese Carved Nephrite Jade Figure of Shoulao, 20th Century
Estimated value
$125 - $350Rarity
Average(4/10)Category
Asian ArtEra
Circa 1920-1970Origin
🇨🇳 ChinaAuthenticity
CHINESE CARVED NEPHRITE JADE FIGURE OF SHOULAO, 20TH CENTURY: IDENTIFICATION
A small hand-carved toggle or miniature figure depicting Shoulao, the Star God of Longevity. The figure is carved from a pale celadon to off-white nephrite jade, featuring the characteristic high domed cranium and holding a staff with a hanging gourd and a peach of immortality in his left hand. The carving style is simplified, common in early to mid-20th-century secular gift items.
Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari), Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant.
CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS
Where This Object Echoes
Shoulao is known as JurĹŤjin in Japan, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, often depicted with a deer.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •Birthday gifting rituals where symbols of longevity are presented to elders to wish them continued health.
Meaning Through Time
Primarily a religious and Daoist symbol of cosmic balance and immortal achievement.
A secularized symbol of good luck, health, and cultural heritage, often used as decorative 'knick-knacks'.
DYNASTY & PROVENANCE
Shoulao is one of the Sanxing (Three Stars), representing Longevity alongside Lu (Prosperity) and Fu (Fortune). This specific carving style and material type suggest production between 1920 and 1970, a period when small jade toggles were mass-produced in workshops in Canton and Suzhou for domestic and export markets.
SCARCITY
Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.
Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 33 asian items at rarity 4 or higher.
Typical Characteristics
- Standard antique shop items
- Regularly available
- Moderate collector interest
Confidence Factors
- The material appears to be genuine nephrite rather than soapstone or serpentine due to the specific waxy luster and fracture pattern
- Carving depth and tool marks are consistent with 20th-century hand-finishing techniques
- Internal fractures (mutton-fat texture) are consistent with natural untreated jade
ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE
Asian Art Specialist
The material characteristics and iconography are highly consistent with 20th-century Chinese nephrite carvings, though the lack of a clear macro shot of the base prevents a 'legendary' confidence score.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1Waxy 'mutton fat' luster identifies the stone as nephrite rather than modern resin or jadeite.
- 2The presence of a peaches and a gourd are standard iconographic markers for Shoulao.
- 3Internal fracture lines (veins) visible in the third image are natural inclusions often found in Khotan-style nephrite.
- 4Simplified drapery folds and facial features align with 20th-century workshop production styles.
UNCERTAINTIES
- •Surface white spots may indicate 'bruising' where the stone was struck, which can lower value in high-end jade circles.
- •Blurry focal points in images prevent confirmation of microscopic tool marks.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Perform a simple scratch test on the base with a steel knife; nephrite will generally resist scratching, while soapstone will scar easily.
- →Provide a high-resolution close-up of the underside (base) to check for wire-saw marks or hand-polishing streaks.
- →Examine under UV light; most natural nephrite is inert, while some modern resins used to fill cracks will fluoresce.
CONDITION & GRADE
Grading breakdown
Condition is typical for a mid-tier 20th-century jade carving; the presence of small bruises (white star-shaped marks) on the base indicates its history as a handled object.
Condition
Small impact fractures or 'white spots' are visible on the base and protruding edges, likely from being carried or stored loosely. Several minor fleabite chips are present on the staff and peach motifs.
ASIAN ART VALUATION
Updated: May 10, 2026
Who buys this
General Asian art collectors and individuals seeking auspicious gifts/symbols for health and longevity.
What increases value
- •Translucency of the stone under light
- •Completeness of the iconography (staff, gourd, and peach all present)
- •Uniformity of the pale celadon color
What lowers value
- •Surface bruising/white impact marks on the cranium and base
- •Evidence of modern mechanical Dremel-tooling marks if found on closer inspection
What makes top-tier examples
- •Exceptional 'pure white' color without gray or green tints
- •Intricate undercut carving where the staff is completely detached from the body
Grade & condition
Material purity, carving complexity, and absence of surface 'bruising' or chips.
Rarity & demand
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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