Auspicious fish playing with a pearl

A gray jade pebble with white mottling and brown streaks has been worked into an auspicious motif of two fish playing with a pearl. A large and a small fish confront each other, separated by a column of water supporting a flaming pearl. The waves form a whirlpool beneath the two fish, squirting up sprays with finger-like waves.

The two fish are not a recognizable species. They belong to the category of auspicious animals that includes a qilin carrying a book and dragons fighting with pearls. The flaming pearl is a wish-granting pearl. Together, the pearl and the fish (representing abundance) convey a wish for plenty, and fulfillment of all wishes.