gems, jade, nephrite, archaic jade, Chinese jade

Collecting is basically defi ned as conscious storing of objects which are internally related. Normally, collectors gather their items according to particular rules or for some purpose, e.g. for aesthetic pleasure, historical and scientific knowledge, or prestige.1) Whatever the reasons, collecting is always connected with the instinct of possession and, in some cases, with the desire to rule the world, or with loneliness and anxiety. The study of collecting not only gives us the chance to discover the reasons as to why people are interested in particular objects, but also provides us with the key to seeing the Macrocosm in its Micro version.