Jadeite Cabbage

The Jadeite Cabbage is displayed at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, where it is one of the institution's most famous and popular exhibits. The museum's collection derives largely from the former Chinese imperial collections, transported from mainland China in the mid-20th century.

The unknown carver exploited the natural color variation in the jadeite stone — transitioning from white to green — to create a realistic head of Chinese cabbage. Two insects, a locust and a katydid, are camouflaged among the green leaves, taking advantage of darker veins in the stone.

The sculpture is attributed to the Qing Dynasty and was originally housed in the imperial palace collections in Beijing. It is believed to have been part of the furnishings of the Qing court before being relocated to Taiwan.

In Chinese cultural symbolism, locusts and katydids are associated with fertility and the blessing of many children. The sculpture is believed to have been created as a dowry gift for a Qing imperial consort, making the fertility symbolism particularly apt.