jade, nephrite, China, Chinese art, modern Chinese jade carving, gems

Zhou and Liao examine contemporary Chinese jade from the perspectives of material, craftsmanship, design, and cultural meaning. The volume presents a broad selection of modern jade works and considers how traditional Chinese jade culture has been reinterpreted by contemporary carvers and designers. Particular attention is given to the relationship between the intrinsic qualities of the stone—color, texture, form, and surface features—and the artistic decisions made during carving. The illustrated examples encompass both traditional subjects and more innovative compositions, demonstrating the coexistence of established techniques and symbolism with changing aesthetic tastes. As part of a gemological book series, the volume combines appreciation of jade as a natural material with an examination of its continuing development as an important medium of contemporary Chinese decorative art.

jade, nephrite, jadeite, fei cui, China, jade carving, gems

gems, jade, nephrite, Canada, British Columbia

The purpose of this paper is to describe the patterns of ground stone celt production in pre-contact southwestern British Columbia (3500 BP?ad 1770) and to offer hypotheses to explain those patterns derived from Coast and Interior Salish ethnographies. The mineralogy of celt production debris and celts was determined using a portable near-infrared spectrometer, and the resulting data mapped using GIS. The spatial distribution of such artifacts clearly indicates that celt production was a highly localized activity in a few centers along the Fraser River, with very little evidence of celt production anywhere else in the Salish British Columbia. Based on this evidence, it is clear that celts were exported in large numbers from very few communities and supplied a market of many hundreds of communities. The patterns evident in such data provide further resolution to the directionality and volume of exchange between celt producing and celt receiving communities. A number of avenues for increasing the volume of production of nephrite celts are explored against the archaeological record. I suggest that elites in nephrite source areas were well-positioned to sponsor or intensify the production of stone celts for export to distant exchange partners.

gems, turquoise, turquoise identification

This book introduces the history and culture of turquoise, classification of varieties, introduction of origin, quality evaluation, identification equipment, etc. The author summarizes the accumulated experience over the years, and divides turquoise fraud into three categories, namely: (1) Artificial treatment of green turquoise, including pass-fill turquoise, dyed turquoise, Zakri treated turquoise, etc. (2) Reconstructed turquoise. (3) Turquoise-like jade and artificial imitations. The author uses three chapters to introduce the three kinds of fraud in detail. A large number of micrographs are used to fully demonstrate the identification characteristics of fraud, and strive to provide both illustrations and texts, so that readers can fully perceive and recognize in the reading process, so as to achieve the best learning effect. The market outlook for this book is optimistic.

gems, jade, China, Chinese jade, archaic jade, nephrite

Critical of China's government but fascinated by its history and culture, Renee Chiang and Bao Pu have taken advantage of Hong Kong's freedom to explore their passion for jade.

gems, jade, nephrite, China, archaic jade, Chinese jade carving, jade identification

A systematic account of the principles and methods used to identify and appraise ancient Chinese jade objects. Yang Boda gives priority to identifying jade materials and their sources, then examines the development of carving tools and techniques. Detailed study of forms, decorative motifs, and inscriptions is combined with broader analysis of period and regional styles. The book distinguishes scientific and traditional approaches to appraisal, treating the recognition of forgeries as outside its stated scope.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, China, coral, Chinese jade carving

This illustrated catalogue presents works selected for the 2015 China Jade and Stone Carving Art “Baihua Award,” documenting contemporary Chinese carving through a broad range of prize-winning and selected pieces. The works encompass jade and other ornamental stones and include figures, animals, landscapes, vessels, religious and auspicious subjects, and more contemporary compositions. Particular emphasis is placed on craftsmanship, design, material quality, and the skillful use of natural color, texture, skin, and shape in the rough. The catalogue provides a visual record of the artists, materials, techniques, and aesthetic trends represented in the 2015 competition and offers a useful survey of contemporary Chinese jade and stone carving.

jade, nephrite, China, Chinese art, modern Chinese jade carving, gems

This volume in the Chinese Master of Yu Carving series is devoted to the life and work of jade-carving master Wu Zaofa (吴灶发). It presents a selection of his carvings and examines his artistic approach, craftsmanship, choice of materials, and development as a contemporary Chinese jade artist. Richly illustrated, the book emphasizes the relationship between the natural qualities of the jade and the finished design, including the deliberate use of color, texture, shape, and other features of the rough. The works combine traditional Chinese carving techniques and subject matter with individual interpretations and contemporary aesthetics, demonstrating Wu’s approach to composition and expression. The volume serves both as a record of the artist’s career and as a survey of his contribution to contemporary Chinese jade carving.

jade, nephrite, jadeite, fei cui, China, Chinese jade, jade carving, American Museum of Natural History, gems

jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, identifying jade, treated jade, Burma, China, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Guatemala, gems

The latest in Renée Newman’s series of fascinating books on unusual gemstones, this volume tackles the difficult subject of jade. You might not think of jade as “exotic” but it is in fact two different stones, found all over the world, in almost every color, and is very commonly imitated, treated, enhanced, and faked. This book will help you pick your way through the jade minefield. Newman begins with a look at why jade was so highly valued by diverse cultures around the world, of which the Chinese were preeminent. She carefully explains the two true jades (nephrite and jadeite) as well as their less common confusing cousins: omphacite, kosmochlor, and maw-sit-sit. The long list of jade imitators is well covered and illustrated. Relevant gemological instruments are introduced and discussed. The average reader will have easy access to the basic ones, but don’t expect your local jeweler or appraiser to own the more advanced--and therefore most useful--instruments. While nephrite is thoroughly discussed and illustrated, clearly the book’s emphasis is on Burmese jadeite, the jade most commonly encountered in high-end jewelry. The quality factors for jadeite are well explained and illustrated. A major issue with jadeite is how to tell natural (Type A) color from polymer injected and dyed (B and C) imitators. It makes a huge difference in price, as well as durability, so Newman treats the subject extensively. While basic instruments can offer some help, the most reliable diagnostics require expensive lab instruments operated by trained technicians, a service you would have to hire out. Price factors are touched on here and there, but as jade is almost always sold by the piece rather than by weight, few generalities can be made. Jade sources and cultures are next described, with individual chapters for China, Burma, Guatemala, Canada (today’s top source of nephrite), and the several USA jade sources, including the fine black nephrite once found in Wyoming. One last chapter covers secondary locales: Russia (famous for nephrite cats-eyes), New Zealand (Maori jade), Taiwan, and more, even a discussion of Turkish “purple jadeite” (a very impure stone). The USA ban on importing Burmese jade (and rubies, too) is briefly discussed. An extra treat is a chapter on abalone pearls, a subject rarely written about. Newman covers what they are, where they are found, and how they are cultivated, as well as price factors and how to care for them. New Zealand Paua pearls are covered as well. As in Newman’s previous gemstone books the coverage is thorough and the writing clear. An odd distraction is the defective kerning (letter spacing) on many pages. The numerous photographs are exceedingly helpful but in a book this size must necessarily be small and so can not have the resolution one would find in an “appreciation” type book. If you have any interest at all in jade as a gemstone Renée Newman’s latest book is a must-have.