Inspired Necklace of Jades, Coral & Silver Embracing Antique Jade Baby Pendant

The star of this necklace is of course the antique, celadon jade baby, actively crawling along, as he holds a ball. At his back, there is a lotus leaf with a stem. Inevitably, this all has huge symbolic meaning for the Chinese. A baby (probably a boy) was the wish of all Chinese parents, so that their family heritage would continue and that their support would be ensured in later life. As he holds a ball, it indicates the promise of possessing the world. The lotus leaf stands for purity and fertility. He measures 4cm (1.5”) long, 3cm (1.25”) high and 22mm deep.

He is attached by 5mm sponge coral beads. Larger sponge coral beads (18mm) are also at the end of the necklace.

Eight large Botswana Jade balls (20mm) are richly contrasted by slices of red, bamboo coral (18mm).

Green aventurine lantern shaped beads compliment the antique celadon jade cylinders (16mm).

Handmade, sterling silver beads (24mm and 14mm), which have been deeply gadrooned, are made by the Karen hill tribes in Thailand. Karen hill tribe Fair Trade silver is made of nearly 98% pure silver. I mostly choose to use their silver because each piece is like a miniature bit of sculpture, individually crafted and created.

A sterling silver, handmade toggle clasp, has been used because toggle clasps are easy to use and secure. My silver name label is attached at the clasp.

The necklace comes, like all my necklaces, with its own colour co-ordinated silk brocaded pouch bag, made by a Shanghai tailor.

The necklace is 46cm (18”) long with a 3 cm (1.25”) pendant drop.