White Jade is a form of Nephrite Jade. It is usually white, off-white, or cream in color. When white jade appears as translucent white or pale yellow it is sometimes referred to as mutton fat jade. Below are some examples of white jade butterflies or white jade with butterfly designs.
A WHITE JADE ‘EGGPLANT’ SNUFF BOTTLE 19th century Naturalistically carved, the body made from white jade to resemble the eggplant, with a butterfly carved in low relief on the side, the calyx surrounding the mouth carved from spinach jade. 2 1/2in (6.3cm) high
Sold for US$ 4,825 (£ 3,687) inc. premium at Bonhams in 2019
A WHITE JADE ‘BUTTERFLY’ PLAQUE 18TH-19TH CENTURY The plaque is carved in openwork on each side as a stylized butterfly with finely detailed body and spread wings, with a flower above the mouth and scrolling leaves flanking the sides. The semi-translucent stone is of very pale greenish-white color. 3 1/16 (7.8 cm.) wide
Sold for USD 5,625 at Christies in 2018
Chinese White and Spinach Green Jade ‘Eggplant’ Snuff Bottle The well hollowed naturalistic form carved in relief with a butterfly and detailed spinach green jade calyx. Height 2 1/2 inches.
Sold for $3,125 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in 2016
CHINESE WHITE JADE BUTTERFLY PENDANT
Length: 3 inches. Length: 7.5cm Weight: 33g
Sold for $1,000 at Maven Auction in 2019
A WHITE AND RUSSET JADE ‘CAT AND BUTTERFLY’ GROUP QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY the cat rendered with its head turned backwards, crouching beside two butterflies skilfully worked from the russet part of the stone 4.9 cm, 1 7/8 in.
Sold for 175,000 HKD at Sothebys in 2018
A CELADON AND RUSSET JADE CARVING OF A LYCHEE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD worked in the form of a plump, succulent lychee with a smaller attendant fruit beside, both neatly worked with a layered scalp simulating the texture of the fruit, borne on a gnarled branch with a butterfly perched atop, the twigs issuing broad veined leaves wrapping around the sides of the fruit, the stone of a pale celadon tone with traces of russet patches 5.5 cm, 2 1/4 in.
Sold for 68,750 HKD at Sothebys in 2019
Headdress for a Manchu court lady. Gold openwork enriched with kingfishers feathers, pearls and semi-precious stones, mounted on a framework of black silk strengthened with wire. The headdress slopes slightly back from the forehead and widens a little towards the top; the back projects from the back of the head, presenting a flat semi-circular surface. this surface is richly decorated with a border of floral forms and two phoenixes in gold set with kingfisher feathers, surrounding a central device of a large pink stone surmounted by a butterfly with coral body and jade wings, the whole enriched with pearls set in and various semi-precious stones. In the front, the upper edge of the headdress is set with seven rectangular openwork plaques of the same style, each with a fairly large semi-precious stone in the middle, with pearl or coral enrichment. The lower part of the front surface is adorned in the same style with central device of a butterfly and flowers executed in pearls and semi-precious stones. Parts of the gold-work are slightly bent and displaced; the kingfisher feather is missing in a few places, also one or two of the stones.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
