The Joy of Collecting: Jade Flowers
From jade and agate glass petals to celadon pots, these mid-century floral sculptures bring a garden indoors that never fades.
A history in bloom
In the mid-20th century, a new kind of flower entered Western homes: the carved jade flower. Originating in China and exported widely in the 1950s–70s, these arrangements blended artistry with permanence. Each bloom was hand-carved from hardstone, often a mixture of jade, agate, quartz, or glass, and wired into place. They were set into celadon-glazed ceramic pots, cloisonné enamel vases, or black lacquer containers painted with landscapes.
They became household treasures, part of the postwar domestic revival, offering colour and exotic charm at a time when interiors were shifting from austerity to optimism.
A note on jade
The word jade can be misleading, since it covers two different minerals: nephrite and jadeite.
Nephrite, used in China since prehistoric times, has a softer, waxy surface and comes in pale to dark greens, creamy yellows, browns, and black.
Jadeite, introduced to China from Myanmar in the 18th century, is glossier and glass-like, with a wider palette including vibrant greens, lilac, yellow, and red-orange.
Most vintage “jade flowers” are not made solely of nephrite or jadeite. Instead, they combine stones, glass, and sometimes resin. Yet the name has endured, a poetic way to describe their cool-to-the-touch petals and gemstone sheen.
From wall to table
The idea of flowers made everlasting is not unique to these mid-century bouquets. In Chinese architecture, entire walls were once adorned with sculpted blossoms and birds. Plum, magnolia, and peony branches climbed across temple facades in painted plaster or ceramic relief, turning stone walls into blossoming gardens.
These monumental works carried meaning: plum blossoms for endurance, peonies for prosperity, and birds among branches for harmony. Their purpose was both decorative and protective, offering beauty that would not fade with the seasons.
The jade and hardstone flowers we collect today echo this same impulse on a more intimate scale. Where reliefs once bloomed across public buildings, these miniature bouquets brought the idea indoors, a garden carved from stone, kept on a windowsill or table.
What collectors look for
Blooms and branches: roses, magnolias, chrysanthemums, and plum blossoms, each with translucent petals that catch the light.
Details: carved berries, twisting stems, and fine wirework that gives movement to each arrangement.
Bases: celadon vases with their soft green glaze, cloisonné enamel pots with butterflies and flowers, or simple black lacquer boxes.
Patina of time: dust settled in crevices, a petal with a small chip, wires darkened with age, signs that mark them as true survivors of their era.
Styling notes
A single jade flower in a celadon vase feels meditative, almost sculptural, when placed by a window. Group several arrangements together for the lush effect of an indoor garden. Their cool stone petals contrast beautifully with soft antique textiles, rustic wooden shelves, or polished ceramics.
Why jade flowers endure
These are everlasting blooms, fragile in form, but strong in substance. They marry nature and craft, bloom and stone. To collect them is to keep a permanent garden, one that never withers, and to celebrate the artistry of hands that carved beauty from the earth itself.