Chinese Toggle with Character Motif

Lopsided, cream-colored piece shapes itself into something close to a calligraphic character.

This toggle with character motif is from China, and dates to the 19th century. It is jade. Traditional Chinese clothing had no pockets, so people of all social classes, from rickshaw drivers to court scholars, used toggles as counterweights to help secure small bags hanging from their sashes. Shaped like a bold written character, this flat pale yellow form has sweeping strokes, open slots and a small round hole near the base. Warm tan patches mark the upper edge. The outline is smooth and the cut-through areas are crisp. It is 1.5 inches deep and 1.75 high.

Writing in three dimensions, with a very generous margin.