Qing Dynasty (1800s) Jade Crane Figural Group

十九世紀玉雕鵝嘴叼著靈芝, 它很可能被用作皮帶扣.

A 19th century jade carving of a goose holding a lingzhi (reishi) mushroom in its beak. It was most likely used as a belt toggle (zhuizi).

Belt toggles were popular ornamental accessories that were used as counterweights to small bags such as pipe bags and money pouches that will have sat on the sash and / or other areas. We know the cut-off point for their use was in the 1940s at which point Western clothing became more common.

Note that there were a lot of cultural changes that were made at this point as well. Traditional practices will have been viewed as less popular.

A good way to identify a good belt toggle is to spot where the cord will have been inserted. In this case. there are several areas that this can be done between the neck of the goose and stylised acanthus leaf. It is quite a small piece carved from a lovely, pale celadon nephrite jade and is very delicately modelled. The base has also been styled with webbed feet and the undersides of the wings.

The toggle measures 5.3 cm wide, 2 cm high and 4.5 cm deep.