Jade collar clasp decorated in openwork with the ‘Three friends of winter’, the Plum Flower, the Pine Tree and Bamboo. The Pine tree and the Bamboo remain green even in icy winters while the Plum is the first to bloom every year. They are admired for their resistance to the elements, symbols of Longevity and highly regarded in Confucianism. As such they represent the scholar-gentleman's ideal. A very similar clasp such as this is depicted in ‘Jade flower and floral patterns’ by Professor Cheng Te-Kùn. Our clasp dates from the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) and was previously in the possession of Rudolph Voll (1911-2009) who acquired it in the 1970’s in Hong Kong. For more information on Rudolph Voll see Quick Find 4167.