Chinese Toggle Depicting Hand of Buddha

Tall, slender pod in cream and honey shows a small bird at the top.

This toggle depicting hand of Buddha is from China, and dates to the 19th century. It is jade. Many toggles carried auspicious symbols drawn from wordplay, so a monkey, whose word can sound like the word for Marquis, suggested high rank, and a carp suggested success in civil service examinations. Ridges run down the front of this upright, elongated segmented form. At the tip is a small head with a drilled eye. The color moves from pale cream at the top to warm gold below, with polish throughout. It is 3.1 inches deep and 1 high.

Simple outline, patient carving, nice warm glow.