jade, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite, gems

Pinder-Wilson surveys the use of jade in the Islamic world, tracing the appreciation and working of the material across the Islamic lands and emphasizing the important role of Central Asian sources and traditions. The discussion considers jade as a prized material for luxury and courtly objects, particularly vessels and weapons, and examines the transmission of forms and techniques between Central Asia, Persia, the Ottoman world, and Mughal India. Mughal jade working became especially sophisticated, with nephrite imported from Central Asia and fashioned into drinking and dining vessels, dagger and sword hilts, and other luxury objects; surviving examples demonstrate both the importance of jade at the Mughal court and the interaction of Islamic, Indian, and East Asian artistic traditions.