Chinese Hand-Carved Soapstone Vase with Floral High-Relief

This is a small decorative vase, estimated to be approximately 4 to 6 inches in height, hand-carved from a single block of polychrome soapstone (steatite). The piece exhibits a muted olive-green to tan ground color with lighter, cream-toned inclusions utilized for the decorative elements. The central motif features a deeply undercut, high-relief carving of a blooming chrysanthemum flower accompanied by broad, feathery foliage that wraps around the body of the vase. The craftsmanship demonstrates traditional Chinese stone-carving techniques, particularly the 'Qingtian' or 'Shoushan' style, where the natural color variations in the stone are exploited to define the subject matter. The vase has an asymmetrical, organic form with a flaring rim and sit atop an integrated or separate carved dark reddish-brown soapstone base. The base is expertly pierced and carved into a tripod lattice pattern to mimic an ornate wooden stand. Visible condition issues include some surface wear consistent with age, minor abrasions on the high points of the floral carving, and some dusty accretion in the crevices. There are no obvious maker's marks visible in the image, which is common for these artisanal workshop pieces crafted during the mid-20th century (c. 1940s-1970s). The waxy luster and relative softness of the material are characteristic of high-quality soapstone rather than harder jadeite.