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Chinese Jadeite Carving of a Boy with Immortal Peach

Green and grey jadeite carving of a Chinese boy holding a large peach, featuring moss-in-snow color patterns. - view 1
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Estimated value

$250 - $650

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

Late 20th Century (circa 1960-1980)

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
19

CHINESE JADEITE CARVING OF A BOY WITH IMMORTAL PEACH: IDENTIFICATION

A hand-carved jadeite sculpture depicting a young boy in a dynamic, leaning pose, supporting a large 'Immortal Peach' over his left shoulder. The boy is styled with a traditional 'shishen' (waistcoat) featuring buckle-like details on the straps and bracelets on both wrists. The material exhibits a motley 'moss-in-snow' coloration, characterized by a greyish-lavender base with distinct emerald green clouding and russet-iron inclusions typical of Grade B or C jadeite. The figure is carved in the round with stylized facial features, including almond eyes and a wide-set grin.

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

Chinese TaoismQing Dynasty

The Peaches of Immortality represent one of the Eight Immortals, Shoulao.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Presentation as a birthday gift to elders to wish for health and long life.

Meaning Through Time

Qing Dynasty

Sacred protection and literal belief in longevity through spiritual merit.

Modern Era

Decorative cultural heritage and investment in jade as a store of value.

DYNASTY & PROVENANCE

The motif of a child carrying an Immortal Peach (Xiantao) dates back to the Ming dynasty but gained widespread popularity during the Qing dynasty as a symbol of 'xiao' (filial piety) and 'shou' (longevity). In Chinese folklore, these peaches ripen every 3,000 years in the garden of the Queen ...
The motif of a child carrying an Immortal Peach (Xiantao) dates back to the Ming dynasty but gained widespread popularity during the Qing dynasty as a symbol of 'xiao' (filial piety) and 'shou' (longevity). In Chinese folklore, these peaches ripen every 3,000 years in the garden of the Queen Mother of the West. This specific carving style—with its simplified anatomical proportions and high-gloss finish—aligns with mid-to-late 20th-century production intended for the export market in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

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

  • High-gloss finish can sometimes mask polymer impregnation (B-Jade)
  • Russet coloring appears potentially enhanced by heat to mimic antique patina
  • Carving style is characteristic of modern workshop production rather than period Qing craftsmanship
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The identification of subject and material is high due to clear visual characteristics, but the grade of the jade (A, B, or C) cannot be determined without physical testing.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Material shows 'moss-in-snow' distribution typical of Burmese jadeite processed in China.
  • 2The iconography of a boy with a peach is a standard 'Bajixiang' related auspicious symbol.
  • 3Stylistic details like the thick wrist bangles and broad facial planes suggest a 20th-century workshop origin.
  • 4Lack of 'birefringence' or visible crystalline structure suggests a high-pressure treatment or polymer coating (Grade B).

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Uniformly glossy luster often indicates a later polymer resin dip.
  • •Anatomical stiffness—particularly in the hands and feet—diverges from high-quality Imperial-style carvings.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Conduct a specific gravity test to distinguish jadeite (3.33) from nephrite or serpentine.
  • →Examine under long-wave UV light; strong fluorescence would confirm polymer impregnation (Grade B).
  • →Check for 'v-shaped' carving grooves under 10x magnification to confirm hand-tooling vs. laser cutting.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Surface retains a high-gloss polish with no major fractures visible. There is a small white impact mark or inclusion on the figure's right thigh. Natural iron-oxide staining is integrated into the carving.

Weight & feel

Estimated weight between 400g and 600g; the material appears dense and cold to the touch, consistent with a silicate mineral.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$250 - $650

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Mid-tier Asian art collectors and buyers seeking auspicious decorative items for home feng shui.

What increases value

  • •Concentration of vivid green color (Fei Cui) in the peach and shoulder.
  • •Overall size and weight of the solid jadeite block.

What lowers value

  • •Confirmation of polymer treatment would reduce value by 60-80%.
  • •Presence of internal 'reaching' cracks that could lead to cleavage.

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Emerald 'Imperial' green saturation without grey undertones.
  • •Evidence of intricate 'undercutting' where the peach is almost detached from the shoulder.

Grade & condition

Color intensity, transparency (water-content), and lack of artificial resins.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar asian objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•59 items

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