Xiu yu jade is one of several kinds of jade found within China. It is a semi-translucent form of jade which is mined in Liaoning Province near Xiuyan County, in north-eastern China. We have several examples of this type of ‘sunburst’ flower made of Xiu yu jade in the Lowlands-collection and it is surprising how much time the artisans have spent to make good quality flowers from a relatively cheap material. The flower dates from the Ming period (1368 – 1644). A similar type of flower in jade (nr 169) is depicted in professor Cheng Te-k’un’s book ‘Jade Flowers and Floral Patterns in Chinese Decorative Art’。