Be like Water 水图

$308.00

Handcarved work of wearable art by skilled craftsman with over 20 years of experience, based on the Song dynasty painting of water bodies.

Natural Serpentine and Marble.

Inner diameter measures around 58.5mm

Fits bangle size of less than 58mm generally (I am a 58 and I can slowly inch into it.  Although it has got carvings, it is on the surface and the inner bangle is still in a solid whole piece.)

Bangle measures 12.2mm high and 7-10mm thick depending on the carving.

This is inspired by the water paintings of Song dynasty painter Ma Yuan, whose work was iconic in East Asian painting history as it was the first time that water bodies were treated with attention and a subject matter in itself. You can see how Hokusai’s waves were continuation of this legacy.

Serpentine is also known as Xiu Yu 岫玉 (lit: “Jade” from the cave region) in Chinese, as the region that produced it in abundance has a lot of cave formations along its coasts.

Note: Unlike conventional gemstones, jadestones have very different colours under different lighting conditions and surroundings. Photos are taken in daylight to best represent the natural colours when worn in the day. As such, they would look different when indoors. We advise to open your parcel in the day next to the window to best appreciate your first acquaintance with your acquisition.

1 in stock

Description

This is one of the twelve water paintings done by Song dynasty painter Ma Yuan in the 12-13th century. I commissioned the carver to base it off this painting which has a relatively calm water, but slightly choppy. He has another one which is much more choppy and akin to what Hokusai would’ve painted/printed in teh 18th century.

The translucent green serpentine part of the bangle is like the water bodies, and like the gem on top of a modern western bangle that accentuates the entire piece. The original bangle lacked certain life to it, and by carving, an added dimension of character is added to the bangle. This is also why the ancient Chinese said that jades that are uncarved cannot be used for ceremonial purposes (not important and spiritual enough).

I worked with a master craftsman carver with over 20 years of experience for this piece, and he is based in the very area that produced serpentine in China. So he lives and breathes serpentine jade, literally.

水图卷– 书格(旧版)

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