Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese
Chinese antique jade isn’t just beautiful in its own right, but carries a deep cultural significance for the Chinese people. Historically, it was used for jewelry, in religious ceremonies, culturally, monetarily, and was believed to hold great mystical and healing powers. Today, it’s still an important stone for the Chinese people, whether used in jewelry or in a traditional jade carving.
Its beauty is admired worldwide, and often jade appears without any link to China or its history at all, in jewelry and other mediums. While most people think all jade is green, that’s merely the most popular color. Jade actually comes in a variety of hues. The Chinese had several different stories about the origins of jade, with one of the most popular holding that when the Mongols invaded China, dragons cried for the people. Their tears became Chinese antique jade.
Jade was revered above all other stones and minerals in ancient times. It was given as an award for the winners of contests of skill, intelligence and strength. The nobility owned jade, and often carved seals and symbols were passed down through the ages, much like a crown or sceptre, as a sign of rank and honor. When someone died, jade might have been given to the grieving family and then placed in the tomb. It was a valuable stone for much more than its beauty. The Chinese people believed that there were certain qualities inherent in the stone that made it desirable. If you find Chinese antique jade, the story behind it, one you’ll likely never know, could be fascinating.
A truly ancient piece of jade could have been used in marriage, birth, death, fertility, healing or other ceremonies. It could have been an amulet used to bring luck, or keep bad luck away. It might have belonged to someone of high rank or great importance. Those who collect Chinese antique jade do so in part because of the rich history of the pieces, even if one can only guess at the true purpose of a piece. When you find a piece that speaks to you, whether anyone knows its history or not, then that’s the perfect piece for your collection.
Often you’ll find Chinese antique jade in the form of carvings. While there won’t be a date or any other outward sign of the actual age of a carving, most carvings were relatively small figures until the advent of Buddhism, when the carvings expanded in size a bit to encompass landscapes and larger scenes, including large statues of Buddha. Statues of dragons, flowers and animals were some of the most popular. If you find a rare antique jade that’s a creamy white color, it’s probably much older than the green jade.
When collecting Chinese antique jade, you may want to specialize in a particular type of jade, like carvings of a certain type, or pieces from a certain period. Places like eBay are great for looking at a variety of pieces, but find a knowledgeable dealer so you know you’re getting genuine jade.
Originally posted 2008-11-11 06:17:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Antique Books Antiques -> Books and Manuscripts -> American If you are interested in finding a collectible that has a true story to tell, antique books are the ideal choice. These offer the ability to collect something that has value, not only in the actual worth of the item, but in the...... -
Restoring Antique Books Maintaining the integrity of old books that are considered to be archives, historic or heirlooms can be a challenging task given the wide variety of elements and types of situations that are capable of causing damage to them. Fire, water, mold and smoke are all elements and situations that are...... - Patchwork Quilts Antiques -> Textiles, Linens -> Quilts, Bedspreads ->Patchwork -> Patchwork quilts are an Americana staple, and these items are also highly collectible. While they are most commonly associated with the pioneer times and early formation of the United States, many cultures produce patchwork quilts and many of them are extremely......
-
Silk Screen Dealers -> Antiques -> Asian For anyone who enjoys Asian art, an antique silk screen can make a gorgeous addition to your home. Paintings and even silkscreened prints with an Asian theme can give a room a distinct atmosphere, but there’s nothing quite like a paneled screen that can be...... - Antique Bench Antiques -> Furniture -> Benches, Stools: 1800-1899, 1900-1950, Post 1950 One great way to add function and beauty to any home is by purchasing a unique antique bench. There are many different types of collectible benches that can be found in antique stores around the world, but it is important......
Related Websites -
Looking For Methods For Improving Your Credit Score? Being able to improve your credit score is a very important part of today's financial environment and many people are seeking to improve their credit score to improve their personal financial situation. Making the choice to improve a credit score can save a person a great deal of money and...... -
Collecting Unique Vintage Car Memorabilia The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to the different types of memorabilia that you can collect. One example of a type of memorabilia that you may choose to add to your collection is car memorabilia. There has been a rise in popularity in collecting cars and car memorabilia...... -
Value of a Coin Collecting Book Collecting coins is simply a hobby or a passion for some people, but for other people it is truly a science. For at least the past century, people have been taking this hobby much more seriously and now there are a myriad of different coin collecting book options to choose...... -
Different Country Garden Landscapes There are a wide variety of different types of gardens, many of which follow the same theme as country garden landscapes. There are so many different types of gardens that it can seem daunting to determine which type is going to best suit your needs. Let us start with the...... -
Avon Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Decorative Collectible Brands-> Avon The Avon Company has been a respected institution in the United States since 1886, and their line of decorative collectibles contain some of the most sought after pieces on record. The company first began producing Avon collectibles in the mid-1960’s and......
