gems, jade, nephrite, China, Fischer-Chinese

The volume introduces the history and origins of Hetian jade, illustrating its formation and traditional and modern methods of extraction with photographs of representative specimens. Drawing on geology, gemology, and materials science, it examines the jade’s principal varieties, geographical distribution, modes of occurrence, physical characteristics, and classification, and explains methods of scientific identification and quality evaluation. A concluding section presents works by more than ten leading Chinese jade carvers, demonstrating how contemporary artists reinterpret the techniques and aesthetics of earlier dynasties while giving traditional Chinese jade culture a distinctly modern expression. The author is one of China's top experts on Hetian yu.