gems, jade, Chinese jade carving, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite

“When presented with a piece of jade that speaks or sings, I am compelled to empty my purse to procure it, which might appear as folly to some.” These are the words of Ai Weiwei (born 1957), the artist and activist, reflecting on his passion for collecting Chinese archaic jades. In this second article in a series, the focus turns to the figural and ornamental jades Ai has assembled over the past four decades. These ancient pieces, dating from the Neolithic period (circa 6500–1700 BC) to the Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220), have been meticulously gathered for their historical importance and rarity. They offer a window into China’s extensive early jade-working traditions and the deep reverence ancient cultures held for jade as a sacred material. Ai recalls how, after returning to Beijing from New York in 1993, he would accompany his younger brother Ai Dan—himself an avid collector and connoisseur of archaic jades—to the antique market daily, as if reporting to work. They spent countless hours combing through the capital’s markets and shops, where in those days, ancient artifacts were plentiful. Ai vividly remembers how, each time he left the market, the soft chime in his trouser pockets—jade pieces gently brushing and tapping against each other—would send his imagination soaring.