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Chinese Carved Hardstone Figure of Shouxing

Small carved pale green stone figure of the Chinese longevity god Shouxing holding a peach. - view 1
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Estimated value

$30 - $80

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

Mid to Late 20th Century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
7

CHINESE CARVED HARDSTONE FIGURE OF SHOUXING: ORIGINS & SIGNIFICANCE

A small, pale green to milky-white hand-carved figure depicting Shouxing (Shou Lao), the Chinese deity of longevity. The figure exhibits classical iconography, featuring an elongated, domed forehead, a flowing beard, and carrying the mythological peach of immortality alongside a gnarled walking staff. The material displays a waxy luster and semi-translucency often associated with bowenite (a dense variety of serpentine) or a lower-grade nephrite. Notably, the base reveals considerable heavy, multidirectional scratching, suggesting a softer Mohs hardness than true nephrite jade.

EASTERN & WESTERN ECHOES

Where This Object Echoes

JapaneseEdo Period to Present

The deities Fukurokuju and Jurojin share nearly identical iconography, derived from the same Chinese stellar origins, also featuring high foreheads and representing longevity.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Presented as traditional birthday gifts to community elders to bestow wishes of a long, prosperous life.

Meaning Through Time

Han Dynasty

Worshipped primarily as a star deity dictating the lifespan of mortals and the destiny of the nation.

Ming to Qing Dynasties

Evolved into an accessible, jovial domestic deity associated with household luck, the peach of immortality, and filial piety.

EASTERN PROVENANCE

Shouxing is a prominent member of the Sanxing (Three Star Gods) in Chinese folk religion, specifically representing the star of the South Pole, corresponding to Canopus. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the presentation of Shouxing figures became a formalized, auspicious tradition for ...
Shouxing is a prominent member of the Sanxing (Three Star Gods) in Chinese folk religion, specifically representing the star of the South Pole, corresponding to Canopus. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the presentation of Shouxing figures became a formalized, auspicious tradition for celebrating venerable birthdays (particularly the 60th and 80th). The peach he holds symbolizes immortality, mythologically ripening only once every 3,000 years in the garden of the Queen Mother of the West. While imperial examples were carved from flawless Hetian nephrite, by the 20th century, a robust export market arose creating these auspicious talismans in more accessible materials like serpentine, soapstone, and regional hardstones.

EASTERN FOOTNOTES

1

Shouxing's exaggerated forehead is a traditional sign of his immense wisdom and accumulated years.

2

Because true nephrite jade is exceptionally tough (historically used for axe heads), deep scratches on the base are a primary diagnostic tool for identifying softer jade simulants.

MEDIUM & CRAFT

Surface

Exhibits a waxy, semi-translucent luster with localized milky inclusions. The surface shows minor superficial impact marks (white crazing points) and broad tool marks within the folds of the robe. The unpolished foot displays intense, crisscrossing striations indicative of relative softness.

Weight & Feel

Appears solid and dense, though likely less dense than true nephrite. It would have a satisfying, palm-filling heft typical of continuous stone.

Condition

Displays structural integrity but with notable surface wear. The user accurately notes 'minor wear', which manifests as fine white impact abrasions on the high points (head, peach) and significant scratch patterns on the flat base.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • The multidirectional scratching on the base strongly suggests a material softer than genuine nephrite jade (Mohs 6-6.5), likely serpentine.
  • The carving style lacks the refined, deep undercut detailing typically seen in period 18th/19th-century antiquities, leaning toward 20th-century commercial production.
  • The piece is an 'authentic' Chinese carving, but collectors must be cautious not to conflate authentic age/origin with authentic Hetian jade.
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

High confidence in the subject matter, origin, and approximate era based on carving style and visual material properties, though absolute material confirmation requires physical hardness or specific gravity testing.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Iconography featuring the domed forehead, peach, and staff definitively identifies the subject as Shouxing.
  • 2Pale, waxy translucency aligns visually with bowenite or regional Chinese hardstones.
  • 3Intense crisscross scratching is visible on the base, which is atypical for true nephrite as it is highly resistant to casual scratching.
  • 4Broad, slightly rounded carving lines without sharp undercut precision suggest mid-20th-century commercial lapidary techniques.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Material ambiguity: Frequently sold in tourist or decorative markets ambiguously as 'jade', though its physical properties suggest serpentine.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Conduct a specific gravity test to determine mineral composition (Nephrite is ~2.95, Serpentine is ~2.6).
  • →Perform a gentle scratch test on an inconspicuous area of the base using a steel needle (steel will scratch serpentine, but generally slide off nephrite).

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$30 - $80

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'origin: china' - The iconography and carving style are distinctly Chinese.
  • User stated 'minor wear' - The visual evidence supports this, showing surface abrasions and basal scratching.

What Conflicted

  • User stated 'Original/Authentic' - While the piece is a genuine Chinese carving of Shouxing, the basal scratching heavily implies the material is a jade simulant (like bowenite/serpentine) rather than precious jade, which affects collector definitions of 'authentic jade'.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•55 items

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