A very rare white and russet jade carving of lychees

Late Ming Dynasty

Late Ming Dynasty
Finely pierced and worked as two ripe fruits incised with a diamond pattern, borne on a gnarled leafy stem, the stone of greenish-white tone with some russet.
8.7cm (3 1/2in) long.

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Compare with a related jade ornament carving of lychees, Ming dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 6, Beijing, 2011, p.213, no.199. Motifs of lychee were very popular in the Ming dynasty as also exemplified by two jade boxes and covers decorated with lychees, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 7, Beijing, 2011, pp.241-242, nos.229 and 230.