Lee Jade Collection

Dr. Choy’s extensive jade collection began in 1982 with three antique carvings given to him by his Aunt Stella O.H. Lee. Over the years, he collected more than 500 pieces, some of which are on permanent loan to the Honolulu Academy of Arts. In 2011 Pacific University was proud to accept a selection of carvings and jewelry from Dr. Choy’s collection, given in honor of his aunt, who inspired his love of jade artifacts.

There approximately seventy carved objects in the collection, including buttons, hairpins, belt buckles, belt hooks, belt plaques, animal miniatures, scholar's desk & personal items, and pendants. Most were acquired in Honolulu or China, while a few were collected in Korea and other places. 

Fifteen representative items  from the Jade Collection are pictured below. 

  • Carved Fluted Wine Cup
    A carved, jade miniature fluted wine cup on a polished wood base. Collected in Shanghai, China between 1982 and 2011.
  • Carved Flower Button
    A jade carved button with a flower design and two buttonholes at the center. Collected in Tianjin, China between 1982 and 2011. Pictured on a polished wood stand.
  • Carved Oval Flat Flower
    A jade carved button with a flower design and buttonhole at the center. Collected in Hawai'i between 1982 and 2011.
  • Carved Open Work Flower Button
    A carved jade button with an open work flower pattern on a polished wood stand. Large flower at the center with smaller flowers decorating the outer edges. Buttonhole at the center. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i between 1982 and 2011.
  • Bird Head Belt Hook
    A carved jade belt hook made to look like a Bird with a long neck and beak. Collected between 1982 and 2011 in Xian China.
  • Carved Hairpin with Bat and Human Figure
    Jade hairpin in long rectangular shape with two carvings at the end. A bat is carved into the bottom half of the end with an abstract human figure in a circular shape on top. Collected between 1982 and 2011 in Shanghai, China.
  • Scholar's Desk Piece, Carved Water Bowl with Stand
    A carved Jade bowl that sits on top of a bronze stand with small men holding up the base. From the Scholar's Desk Pieces Series in the Stella O.H. Lee Jade Collection. Collected in Datong, China between 1982 and 2011.
  • Plaque with Scholar and Fish Lingzhi Design,
    A dark-green, jade carving in a flat circular shape. The design is a scholar and a fish in the Lingzhi style. Collected in Shanghai, China between 1982 and 2011.
  • Sitting Buddha with Halo
    A white jade Buddha carved in a sitting position with hands on knees and a halo above his head and shoulders. There is a small drill hole in the halo, likely for stringing to make into a necklace or hanging pendant. Back is flat. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i between 1982 and 2011.
  • Archer's Ring
    A rounded, bead-like object made of an orange and brown jadeite. Perfect cylinder with a hole in the center. Collected in Tianjin, China.
  • Carved Chop with Foo Dog
    Carved jadeite piece with a chop block as the base and a Foo Dog on top. From the 20th century and collected by Dr. Timothy Choy in Honolulu Hawai'i sometime between 1982 and 2011.
  • Round Carving with Flowers and Bamboo
    A flat, rounded jade object carved with an intricate flower and bamboo pattern that gives the appearance of lace. Collected in Shanghai, China between 1982 and 2011.
  • Rabbit in Repose
    an elongated rabbit in a lying position with head and butt pointing up. Carved in jade and collected in Tiajin, China by Dr. Timothy Choy.
  • Carved Snuff Bottle
    Small 'snuff bottle' carved from jade with intricate pattern on either side. Part of the Scholar's Desk Items series in the Stella O.H. Lee Jade Collection. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  • Frog on Leaf
    A small jade object carved with a frog sitting flat on a billowing leaf. Donated by Dr. Timothy Choy in honor of his aunt, Stella O.H. Lee. Collected in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
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