I found this fabulous piece of rich dark green jade and loved it because of the unusual color and the exquisite carving.  The symbolism is particularly nice as it is hard to find carvings with the five bats of happiness.  I searched for the perfect bead complement and found these wonderful rutilated quartz beads with the exact same green color inclusions.  The small jasper beads that I have interspersed between the rutilated quartz are the same green.  The rultilated quartz beads give a lightness to the necklace and are a unique combination with the jade.

This dramatic one-of-a-kind necklace is made with a piece of naturally dark green jade - spinach jade.  It is carved with a traditional design of the pi (round disk) with five bats around it and two phoenix on top facing each other.  the jade pendant measures 2 1/2" and is 1 1/2". I have beaded it with 12 mm high quality green rutilated quartz interspersed with small green jasper beads the color of the jade.  The rutilated quartz is clear with inclusions of dark green granules.  The necklace is 23 1/2” around and is finished with a 14k gold hook clasp.

The bat is symbolic of happiness, good fortune, prosperity and longevity. When something is portrayed upside down it means it has arrived, so the common portrayal of an upside-down bat is symbolic of good fortune that has arrived.  It is one of the best symbols of good luck.   The Wu Fu, or Five Bats of Happiness, stands for the five blessings: long life, riches, health, love or virtuosity  and a natural death. Chinese word for "bat" (fu) identical to sound in good luck.

The phoenix, a mythical bird, is the emblem of the Empress and of beauty. It only appears in time of peace and prosperity.   It is believed that a following of smaller birds is always present when the phoenix is flying. It is symbolic of prosperity, rich harvests, and beauty. A pair of phoenix is symbolic of happiness.