The history of Chinese jade
Chinese jade is at the heart of Chinese culture, it is considered the most spiritual stone among precious stones.
Chinese jade is a stone of legendary value, it is a material that spans millennia and in Chinese popular culture has a very long tradition. Its tradition is influenced by the different meanings that this stone has assumed over the centuries.
9,000 years ago jade was considered sacred in China and represented the union between heaven and earth. Its importance is also deduced from the naming of the ages of Chinese prehistory. In Chinese prehistory, in fact, eras have been divided between the Age of Arms in stone, jade and bronze.
The first objects appear about 7,000 years ago in China and the stone, more precious than diamonds and gold, immediately takes on a sacred and spiritual meaning. In the period of the Shang and Zhou dynasty, jade sabers and swords were a symbol of power.
The importance of this precious stone was also emphasized by Confucius who, in the fifth century BC, associated it with virtues such as beauty and benevolence. Later, it also takes on a meaning of purity, so much so that it is used to purify the dead before moving on to the afterlife.
Jade had a central role in cult assemblies. Jade objects were also used as sacred stones during worship.
Today in China jade appears on important objects and the Chinese are convinced that the stone is able to protect them from misfortune and bring good luck. It still symbolizes nobility, constancy, elevation to perfection.
Jade is imported from northern Burma to China in quantity degrees during the 19th century. However, the main source of imports remains in northern Myanmar.
The Chinese jade today
Cold to the touch, opaque but with an almost translucent quality, remarkable for its resistance. Among the various types of collectibles, the Chinese jade is certainly the most niche, it is present in many shapes and colors.
The Chinese jades in the market are of two categories, the archaic ones (related to the period of the Bronze Age, from the Shang to the Han era) and those that date back to the eighteenth century. Archaic objects are more related to worship and rituals, while the latter are mostly objects with a decorative function, as well as more widespread and with a wider audience.
The natural color of jade is between green and saturated blue. However, this can vary from cream white to intense black, from pink to mauve. In the Far East, white or yellow jades with pink shades are very popular. Red or lavender jades are also very popular.
Sale and purchase of Chinese jade
When buying a Chinese jade item, there are many factors to consider. First the authenticity of the stone, then the documented origin, and finally the period and color. The most precious color is white and the rarest is yellow.
Collecting Chinese jade objects in Italy is even rarer than porcelain.
Antichità Giglio offers a free evaluation service of oriental art, including jade and coral. The evaluation allows to carefully analyze the characteristics of a work of art oriental and aims to express a market value for the work in question, detail fundamental for the sale.
The evaluation of oriental art is free, if aimed at a sales purpose, even without commitment or any constraint for your works; the first evaluation is also very simple, professional and fast, just fill out our online form or send photos and a short description to our e-mail info@antichitagiglio.it or on Whatsapp at 335 63.79.151.
