12.5 Solid Genuine Canadian Nephrite Jade Toad Family Sculpture One of a Kind

  
12.5 Solid Genuine Canadian Nephrite Jade Toad Family Sculpture - One of a Kind. This finely-detailed sculpture features a family of toads (a small toad sits upon one of the larger ones). The sculpture is carved genuine Canadian nephrite jade. The variations in color across the piece are naturally occurring variations in the piece of jade. The jade measures approximately 12.5" x 4.5" x 2. The jade toads and leaves sit upon an intricately carved wooden base. The wood base measures approximately 13" x 6.2" x 3.25. The wood base does have some minor damage on the side that features more flowers (see photo 1 and photo 8).

There is also damage to the wood base on the side with fewer carvings (see photos 5 and 9). This is a one-of-a-kind piece/only 1 available. You will receive the item in the photos.

Jade is one of two gemstones, nephrite jade or jadeite jade. Nephrite jade, (a silicate of calcium and magnesium), is the historical Chinese Jade, or Stone of Heaven, a stone revered by the Chinese for more than 5000 years. Nephrite is prized for its special qualities: its extreme toughness, (the toughest of any natural stone), its alluring translucency and a smooth polished feel. Colors of Nephrite Jade range from pure white to all shades of green.

All of our jade products are 100% pure, Nephrite Jade. No artificial coloring, dyes, or any treatment to enhance the color are applied to our jade. Jadeite Jade: (silicate of sodium and aluminum) A relatively new jade introduced to China from Burma in 1784. Gem quality Jadeite is extremely rare and thus extremely expensive. Often mislabeled as "Chinese jade, " (it was never found in China), jadeite is slightly harder than nephrite jade.

Colors of jadeite range from white to black with intense greens and lavender being the most sought after. Jadeite is often color enhanced and expert advice should be sought when investing in jadeite jewelry. Nephrite Jade is an extremely tough material to work. Nephrite Jade is fibrous in structure, similar to a handful of human hair.

Due to this fibrous structure it cannot be cut with chisels, it has to be ground using very hard sharp abrasives, diamonds. All of the saw blades we use have diamond embedded in a soft matrix. This allows the soft matrix to slowly wear away exposing new diamond. It is the hardness of the diamond particles being dragged over the softer jade that does the cutting.