Help with a Jade elephant i got when my father passed away

[digging440yrs]

My dad passed away not long ago, [ 83 yrs young ] and i'm going thru things. I was told by him that this elephant was his aunts, and she was a school teacher from around 1890 - 1930. He said that she went on many cruises in that time period, she passed away in 1951. My question is can anyone read the mark on the bottom of the elephant, its very heavy for its size and a very hard stone- cant scratch with a finger nail. , I was told it was jade and my great aunt may of got it on a cruise between 1890-1930. Any thoughts where it was made and the material are appreciated ----Tom------- ----

 

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[Indian Steve]

Sorry that I can't help with ID but it sure looks like a nicer quality carved piece.

 

[huntsman53]

I can't help much either but it does appear to have been carved out of Jade. The marking(s) on the bottom might possibly be one of the Indian languages (Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali or Gujarati) and is likely the initials or other ID of the Carver.

 

[huntsman53]

Sorry I didn't catch this earlier but after checking out the pics again of the Jade Elephant, I am almost certain that it is an Asian Elephant due to the small ears, so that narrows the carving down to India or Southeast Asia.

http://www.eleaid.com/elephant-information/differences-african-asian-elephants/

 

[ARC]

From my limited knowledge of jade... but yet some knowledge does exist...

There are a few things I will just throw out there concerning this...

It is unusuall to see the carving AND base as "one".

IF in fact is Jade... IMO this would be a "Celedon" Jade... and a nice example of it I might add.

Take a very ... very close look and see if you can see any inclusions... OR evn bubbles (meaning a glass)... WHICH I HIGHLY doubt... to me it looks good.

 

[Lunch Bag]

If produced in Taiwan, China or Singapore, the writing is the number 17.

Possibly carved by worker #17 would be my guess so he or she could get credit and thus paid.

 

[digging440yrs]

Hey Aarc, nope no bubbles or anything like that---its 1 piece of jade---would love to know the age and value

 

[tamrock]

I got stone seal that looks kinda like it was carved from the same type of stone your elephant is. I'm not sure what exact stone it is and it seems many soft stones from Asia can have the description of jade attached to it. I've got a green stone bowl and what people describe it as, being made of spinach jade and it's very translucent in front of light.

 

[digging440yrs]

I just learned that there is a translucent celadon jade that looks close to mine

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

First off Tom, let me say how sorry I am for the recent loss of your father.
This is a tourist carved piece, likely dating to the 1920s - 30s.

Lunch Bag posted some good information.

Dave

 

[ARC]

First off Tom, let me say how sorry I am for the recent loss of your father.
This is a tourist carved piece, likely dating to the 1920s - 30s.

Lunch Bag posted some good information.

Dave

You may be Correct... BUT.. do not dismiss this as being a "average" or "not worth much" piece.

The value of older Jade is steady... and one of the few consistently selling items in resale markets... especially on Ebay.

Which is where this piece should be listed IF selling is the goal / option.

The Asians who purchase these items on Ebay know exactly what it is and its true value.

 

[ARC]

IF this is to be sold...

IMO... You should list tis on Ebay with a full disclosure stating that it was your fathers and you were told it was Jade and that you think it may be Celedon Jade.

Starting bid of $100.

Because if its unique design of the stand and elephant being "one solid" piece this takes this item to another level and would not be surprised if it brings 300.

Reserve at 299.

 

[ARC]

PS... Dig... items like these have a weird thing all their own... there is a possibility of even a "bidding war" to take place on this piece.

Ebay should be your ONLY selling option... REPEAT only selling option.... UNLESS someone hands you 300 cash.

I only see ONE drawback to design... BUT this doesn't really apply to serious Jadies...

Trunk down.

The trunk down is a western superstition as far I a recollect and will not apply to the real collectors.

Anyway... enough babble.

Good luck.

 

[digging440yrs]

Thanks everyone

 

[A2coins]

Great piece I would keep it for sentimental reasons very nice

 

[Clay Diggins]

It's a nice piece. It looks like some of the better tourist pieces I've seen from Thailand. It's definitely an Asian elephant.

I seriously doubt it's jade due to the base being part of the carving, as AARC pointed out, and more importantly there appear to be scratches and scuffing on the bottom. Jade being the toughest natural material on earth does not scratch or scuff easily. Try running the point of your pocketknife or scissors along the bottom - if it leaves a scratch it's not jade.

A lot of "jade" being sold over the centuries has no relationship to the two minerals collectively known as jade. It looks like it might be adventurine or chalcedony but yours looks very much like soapstone. In any case it is a nice, well executed, carving and has a good value for that alone.

 

[signal_line]

Wife saying marking is the word for earth or ground. Thought maybe from Thailand, might be jade, probably not extremely valuable but nice.

 

[ARC]

It's a nice piece. It looks like some of the better tourist pieces I've seen from Thailand. It's definitely an Asian elephant.

I seriously doubt it's jade due to the base being part of the carving, as AARC pointed out, and more importantly there appear to be scratches and scuffing on the bottom. Jade being the toughest natural material on earth does not scratch or scuff easily. Try running the point of your pocketknife or scissors along the bottom - if it leaves a scratch it's not jade.

A lot of "jade" being sold over the centuries has no relationship to the two minerals collectively known as jade. It looks like it might be adventurine or chalcedony but yours looks very much like soapstone. In any case it is a nice, well executed, carving and has a good value for that alone.

? ? ?

When trying to help... lets try to speak in facts when helping...

Lets start with your statement of Jade being "the toughest natural material on earth"... this statement is not only FAR from the truth... its not even close...

Jade is not even in the top ten in "tough" OR "hard"... don't believe ? - https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness

Different grades / types of jades have different types of properties... BOTH in hardness amongst other things.

FOR EXAMPLE... "Jadeite is very hard; it will scratch glass or even metal. Nephrite, however, can be softer, so performing a scratch test improperly may damage a genuine piece. If it scratches glass or steel, it could still be many of the alternatives to jade as well".

Celedon Jade which is what I think this item is scratches very easily.

Just trying to "set the record" straight before someone starts taking scissors to an expensive jade carving in an attempt to determine its validity.

IF anything... IF I am incorrect in my opinion of what this is made of... it would be soapstone... but doubt it.

 

[ARC]

here are the MAIN colors of desired jade...

 

[signal_line]

Wife noted there was some red in it. Just my two cents cryptocurrency (not worth much) that inscription on the bottom might have been the worker's note to himself to carve it with that side down.