Jade rabbit Side

In ancient China, rabbits were auspicious symbols that were associated with bright moons. They were favored and admired by people. Jade pieces with rabbit themes could be divided into two categories: rabbit sculptures and rabbit engravings. The earliest jade pieces with rabbit themes had rabbits carved into ornaments or buckles. Beginning in the Sui dynasty, they appeared as paperweights and earrings. This rabbit is a sculpture rather than an engraving. The rabbit is carved from gray jade. The rabbit is seated with its legs and ears tucked close to its body. Its eyes are looking straight ahead. The effect is simple but lively. The object uses three-dimensional techniques, making it look more realistic than the two-dimensional jade rabbits carved in the Shang or Zhou dynasty. The rabbit looks docile and adorable, and the piece serves more than a simple function of decoration.