Chinese Jade

For over five thousand years Chinese lapidaries have recognised the aesthetic possibilities of jade, using their skills to transform this exquisite stone into works of art.

By an extremely arduous process they carve themes which encompass Chinese folklore, religious beliefs, deeply-rooted philosophies, and delight in the natural world -- all of which reflect the extraordinary imagination and vital spirit of the Chinese.

In this handy yet comprehensive volume, Joan Hartman-Goldsmith introduces the uninitiated to the fascinating subject of jade as well as providing new information for the seasoned collector.

Contrary to popular belief, the term "jade" does not refer to a single stone.

Rather, "jade" is an umbrella term for the two semi-precious stones, nephrite and jadeite.

The identification of the stone is one of the major problems in collecting jade, the other being the determination of the approximate date when an object was carved.

The author helps to enlighten the reader on these and other questions with discussions of the physical properties of jade, jade carving, the development of Chinese jade through the ages, and a short section on Indian jade.

Over 40 pieces, ranging from the neolithic period to the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), and selected from public and private collections in North America, Europe, Hong Kong, and China, are illustrated and described in detail.