Chinese Toggle Depicting Cicada

Broad, bell-shaped piece in butter-yellow blushes orange at the shoulder.

This toggle depicting cicada is from China, and dates to the 19th century. It is jade. Jade was generally the most preferred and valued material for toggles, a precious stone integral to Chinese culture since the Neolithic Period and often called the stone of heaven. Widening toward a straight base, this flat, rounded-top form is pale cream with warm orange and yellow patches near the top. Faint curved lines mark the upper face and a tiny ringed circle sits at lower right. One edge is chipped. It is 1.25 inches deep and 2.5 high.

Plain, warm and quietly pleased with itself.