| Jade is one of the most-loved collectibles. Its origins | | | | Around the turn of the 20th century, we start to see |
| are ancient, its properties both medicinal and | | | | large, fancy and colorful carvings made for Western |
| decorative. Though revered around the world, jade is | | | | consumption. Table-top and decorative items produced |
| most commonly associated with China, where it has | | | | between 1880 and 1900 were often embellished with |
| been known for 8,000 years. The early Chinese called | | | | silver or gold, even enamel. In the second half of the |
| it yu and saw it as a "living stone," radiating with an | | | | 20th century, traditional styles began to give way to an |
| inner glow. | | | | elaborate new standard. |
| Often ground, mixed with wine and fed to the | | | | There are two kinds of jade: hard and soft. Ancient |
| emperors, jade was believed to increase imperial | | | | jade and hard jade are often referred to as jadeite. |
| longevity. Symbolically, a court gentleman, on reaching | | | | Though found in a variety of colors, the most valuable |
| 80, was allowed to carry a jade pigeon on a pole. | | | | is green. The most valuable green is a near emerald |
| Concubines received jade scepters from their | | | | green called Imperial Jade or gem-jade. Other colors, |
| emperors. Mandarin hats had carved small finials on | | | | such as yellow jade, have their place in the pantheon |
| their tops and a jade plume holder in the back. Chinese | | | | of Chinese carvings too. Soft jade is called nephrite. Its |
| women decorated their hair with jade. Han dynasty | | | | coloration ranges from slightly off-white to yellowish |
| princes and princesses were sometimes buried in suits | | | | white or greenish white. The latter is often referred to |
| of jade, a notable feat accomplished by stitching | | | | as celadon jade. |
| together bits of jade with threads of silver or gold. | | | | |