gems, jade, Fischer-Book, China, Chinese jade

An illustrated catalogue of ancient Chinese jade objects compiled by Qu Zhongrong [瞿中溶] in 1832. Yizaitang Gu Yu Tu Lu [奕載堂古玉圖錄] presents 365 jade objects in six juan, with drawings and descriptive notes intended to document their forms, types and antiquarian significance. The work belongs to the Qing tradition of collecting and studying archaic jades and provides valuable evidence for early nineteenth-century Chinese connoisseurship, classification and interpretation of ancient jade. Although compiled in 1832, the work remained in manuscript and was first printed in 1930.