To make this masterpiece of the Ching dynasty, the sculptor ingeniously transformed a piece of emerald green and white jade into a lifelike Chinese cabbage. The ruffled, semi-translucent leaves almost rustle at the touch. Long white stalks overlap in a gentle rhythm. The veins of the leaves are minutely carved out. A closer scrutiny reveals two large grasshoppers hidden among the leaves.
Sculptors in the Ming and Ching dynasties first separated a large lump of jade into small pieces with a steel saw. A machine worked by a treadle was then used to shape the pieces before they were carved, sandpapered (with a special substance harder than jade) and polished.