jade, jadeite, fei cui, Burma, gems

gems, jade, pyroxene jade, jadeite, fei cui, omphacite, kosmochlor, China, Chinese jade, nephrite, archaic jade

Na Zhiliang’s Yuqi tongshi is a comprehensive study of Chinese jade objects based on materials he had collected over several decades, including his work with the Palace Museum collections. The first volume is devoted principally to the forms and functions of jade objects, examining their terminology, shapes, uses, and traditional classifications; the second treats broader questions concerning jade, organized under nine subjects: classification, sources, extraction, color, carving, discoveries, inscriptions, decorative motifs, and illustrated literature. Na brings together information from early Chinese texts, antiquarian works, archaeological discoveries, museum collections, and earlier scholarship, illustrating and comparing numerous examples of ritual, ceremonial, ornamental, funerary, and utilitarian jades. Particular attention is given to the identification and interpretation of traditional forms and to the historical terminology associated with yu. The work serves both as a synthesis of the traditional Chinese literature on jade and as a systematic reference for the study and classification of Chinese jade artifacts. Na later recalled that he began organizing his accumulated jade research in 1960 and completed the two-volume work after two years of study; the first volume appeared in 1964, while the second was published in 1970.

gems, jade, nephrite, Wyoming, USA

jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, Wyoming, USA, gems

gems, jade, China, Chinese jade carving, Chinese lapidary arts, nephrite, yu

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, China, New Zealand

Jade, regarded as a material used for prehistoric tools and works of art, presents numerous aspects of interest. The distinctive properties of nephrite and jadeite, which are responsible for their characteristic appearance and hardness, may be used to distinguish them from one another and from other minerals. The occurrence of jade in relatively few localities throughout the world, together with the relationship between these localities and the regions in which jade was worked, raises important questions. Finally, the study of the history of jade working reveals evidence of considerable technical skill, even during very early periods.

corundum, Burma.12, gems, jade, fei cui, jadeite

Sinkankas: Written in enthusiastic style, full of practical advice and accurate information on traveling to Burma, its geography, the Mogok region and its features, the history of the ruby mines, methods of mining and recovery of gemstones, gem cutting & marketing practices, and what the visitor should look out for, with remarks on the jadeite of Burma and its deposits and methods of mining. Photos taken on the spot by the author.

gems, jade, amphibole jade, nephrite, China

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

Núñez Chinchilla describes a group of carved jade plaques from the Maya ruins of Copán, documenting their forms, workmanship, and iconography and illustrating several important examples. The pieces include anthropomorphic and supernatural figures carved in low relief and perforated for suspension, indicating their use as pendants or components of elite personal ornaments. Particular attention is given to recurring facial features, headdresses, bodily postures, and other symbolic elements that permit comparison with representations in Maya sculpture and with jade objects from other Mesoamerican sites. One of the objects illustrated in the article, later identified with the Principal Bird Deity, depicts a seated supernatural figure and has become an important comparative example in studies of Early Classic Maya jade imagery. The paper provides an early archaeological record of Copán’s carved jade ornaments and emphasizes their significance as objects of high status and ceremonial importance within Maya culture.

gems, jade, amphibole jade, nephrite, China, archaic jade