Tianjin Museum treasure is all about Chinese cabbage

Do you like to eat Chinese cabbage? Check out this remarkable jadeite sculpture from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that is crafted in the form of a Chinese cabbage. The jadeite used for this masterpiece isn’t perfectly green, with leaves fading into a yellow hue – but that’s part of its charm. The artist skillfully utilized the natural color variations in the stone to carve two grasshoppers and a mantis climbing on the cabbage. The vivid green highlights the insects, while the imperfections of the jadeite are cleverly concealed at the back.

This masterpiece of artistry and precision is a treasure in the permanent collection of Tianjin Museum.