A pale green jade carving of lychee16th centuryFinely pierced and worked as three ripe fruits incised with a diamond pattern, borne on a gnarled leafy stem, the stone of greenish-yellow tone with some russet inclusions. 7.3cm (2 7/8in) long. 注脚十六世紀 青白玉雕荔枝把件Compare with a related jade ornament carving of lychees, Ming dynasty, illustrated in the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 6, Beijing, 2011, p.213, no.199. Motifs of lychee were very popular in the Ming dynasty as also exemplified by two jade boxes and covers decorated with lychees, Ming dynasty, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade, 7, Beijing, 2011, pp.241-242, nos.229 and 230.