Chinese White Jade & Silver Figure

Appraised on: June 18, 2011

Appraised in: El Paso, Texas

Appraised by: Erica Voogd-Phillips

Category: Asian Arts

Episode Info: El Paso, Hour 1 (#1610)

Originally Aired: March 26, 2012

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: (1:19)

GUEST: The only thing that I know is that it belonged to my mother, and she collected some objects that were Asian origin.

APPRAISER: Okay, well, she had beautiful taste. She picked something that is really quite pretty. It's Chinese, and it is white nephrite jade. And jade comes in many different colors, but when it's a pure white tone, with no spots of brown or green or inclusions, it's highly prized by the Chinese. It's mounted in silver, and it has Buddhist iconography surrounding it. The figure is the goddess Guanyin, who is the goddess of mercy, and she holds a lotus blossom here.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: And she holds a fly whisk in her lowered hand. The back is beautifully chased and all supported on a base suggesting a lotus blossom. So it's really a very pretty piece. Probably made in the late 19th century...

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: ...around 1880, 1890. At auction today, I think it would easily bring between $3,000 and $5,000.

GUEST: Wow, okay. Well, thank you very much.

APPRAISER: That's a nice estimate for such a small little stone, isn't it?

GUEST: It certainly is.