Type A Jadeite Guanyin Pendant, Icy with Blue Flowers, 54mm

A natural Type A jadeite Guanyin pendant in icy texture, an icy white body with floating blue-green flowers, with a gold bail, about 54.3 × 36.4 × 5.8 mm.

Icy jadeite is fine-grained and highly translucent, so light passes through it with a clear, watery glow. Clean and flawless: Guanyin sits on a lotus throne, the upper body icy and nearly colorless with a calm, gentle face, while a drift of blue-green flowers falls exactly in the lotus base, like water holding up the flower, which gives the carving a steady balance.

At 54.3 mm this is a large Guanyin, made to be the centerpiece on the chest, and it carries a black cord or a heavier gold chain well. In Chinese tradition Guanyin stands for compassion and protection and is often given by elders to the younger generation; by custom men wore Guanyin, though today women wear her just as often.

As a natural mineral, jadeite nearly always carries some cotton or stone lines; they do not affect wear. On a phone screen the color of this 54.3 mm Guanyin can look stronger or paler than it is, so the video in natural light is the best guide. The gold setting reflects light, so photos can look slightly brighter than the piece.

You can reserve this 54.3 mm Guanyin for free first; the seller confirms stock and holds it for 24 hours while you pay. It is checked against its certificate before shipping and travels fully insured, with free shipping.