jade, nephrite, China, archaic jade, gems

A bilingual guide presenting six principles for evaluating archaic Chinese jade. Draws on the author’s collecting experience to combine practical assessment with appreciation of natural features, craftsmanship, and cultural significance, covering objects from the Neolithic period through the Han dynasty.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Burma, Yunnan, China

This historical study examines Yunnan’s association with yu, particularly feicui, and its role in the trade and cultural exchange linking northern Myanmar with China. Its subject centres on the historical basis of the expression “yu comes from Yunnan,” bringing questions of provenance into relation with commercial routes and regional history. The book provides a reference for investigating Yunnan’s place in the development of feicui commerce and culture.

gems, jade, Chinese jade, nephrite, Chinese jade carving, archaic jade

This illustrated reference surveys Chinese yu objects chronologically, from the Neolithic period through the Ming and Qing dynasties. It examines changes in form, material, colour, ornament, and carving technique, presenting these features as a basis for appreciation, identification, and collecting. Examples range from early ritual and ornamental objects to later figurative carvings and landscape compositions. The volume connects craftsmanship with cultural meaning and offers comparative material for recognising the characteristics of different periods.

gems, jade, jade sculpture, nephrite, China, Chinese jade carving

Throughout the long history of the Chinese nation, our ancestors not only created abundant material wealth but also produced a rich legacy of spiritual and artistic achievements, including painting, sculpture, music, and dance. Among these, the art of carving most vividly embodies the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Chinese people, showcasing both creative ingenuity and masterful skill in working with different materials. China’s traditional carving arts are vast and diverse, with micro-carving being one of the most intricate and delicate forms. This craft breaks away from conventional carving techniques, employing specialized tools and unique methods to create detailed works on materials such as ivory, jade, bamboo, and wood. Since micro-carving requires working on a minuscule scale, where details are often invisible to the naked eye, artisans rely solely on their sense of touch and experience to complete their creations. For this reason, micro-carving is also known as “divine engraving” and has historically been regarded as a nearly lost art, sometimes referred to as secret carving, rice-grain carving, or fine carving. As one of the most mysterious and treasured art forms in Chinese culture, micro-carving has been sparsely documented throughout history, and surviving examples are extremely rare. This article, based on limited historical records and the author’s years of practical experience, provides a comprehensive discussion on the origins and development of micro-carving, offering a deeper and renewed understanding of this enigmatic craft. The history of micro-carving in China can be traced back 5,000 to 6,000 years, with the earliest known examples found on prehistoric jade artifacts. Micro-carvings unearthed from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties indicate that ancient artisans had already begun mastering this technique. By the Tang dynasty, the flourishing society fostered a golden age for handicrafts, elevating various artistic techniques, including micro-carving, to unprecedented heights. Ivory engravings from this period…

gems, jade, pyroxene jade, fei cui, guatemala, Mesoamerica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, archaeogemology, Mayan design, aesthetics, Olmec, Aztec, Guatemala, archaeology

gems, jade, nephrite, China, lapidary

gems, jade, Chinese jade, nephrite, Chinese jade carving, archaic jade

Excellent book on Hongshan-Cultural ancient jade appraisal.the author is famous expert on Hongshan-cultural ancient jade appraisal. A guide to the authentication of ancient yu objects attributed to the Hongshan culture. Drawing on the author’s collecting and research experience, it presents his approach to examining individual objects and distinguishing genuine antiquities from imitations. Its focus is practical connoisseurship and the development of judgment through close study and comparison.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary

In his essay, David Stuart provides a carefully nuanced reading of the many bundles that appear in Classic Maya imagery. He contests their traditional grouping under the rubric “tribute bundles” and suggests instead that various categories of bundles can be identified, some of which provide important insights into the economic significance of this motif. In particular, he posits that the contents of one type of bundle—labeled ikatz (“cargo” or “burden”)—may have been carved jades, which served a powerful role in elite gift exchange and tribute in ancient Mesoamerica. In contrast, he identifies another type of bundle, labeled with the numerical classifier pik, which appears to have contained cacao beans, a commodity closely associated with elite gift-giving and payment. Weaving together a variety of images with epigraphic and archaeological evidence, Stuart reconstructs patterns of elite exchange that shed insight into the social, political, and economic role of these practices and that illuminate their mythological ramifications as well. In short, he posits that bundle-related text and imagery such as this provide insight into ancient Maya notions of wealth.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary

gems, gemology, jade, China

This is a comprehensive Chinese textbook covering the crystallography, optical, physical, and chemical properties of gemstones, their identification methods, and classification systems. It is widely used in gemological education and certification programs in China.