Daniel Dong
Art 1040-006
James Lund
Being half Chinese and growing up seeing a lot of Jade Jewelry, I have chosen to do
it on Jade. Jade is among some the oldest of known gemstones, it has been appreciated at
many different levels throughout history: it was as an object used in daily life, in pagan
times as an object of ritual. Somewhere along the way it acquired economic status as an
item of barter and wealth, now today it has become a symbol of art and personal
adornment.
The name Jade; Spanish conquistadors started wearing the green rocks of the Maya
to cure their kidney disease. They gave the rock remedy the name “piedra de ijada”;
translating into “stone of the loins”. What isn’t clear is most likely an error labeling the
imported stone to Europe changed the name from “piedra de ijada” to “le Jade”. The
name “le Jade” or as we say in English “Jade”, is the word that stuck and is now the most
common word used name for jade.
Jade actually has two chemically different stones in it: jadeite, which is a pyroxene
or a silica-bearing mineral, and nephrite, which is an amphibole, or a ferro-magnesium
silicate. Even though they are different minerals, they share many common characteristics.
The Chinese were becoming aware of the difference by the mid-1700′s meanwhile, in
Europe, the technical differences in the stone were first published in 1863.
Nephrite jade, which the Chinese grew to appreciate so very deeply, was the form of
jade that they had first encountered in the Neolithic period. Then when jadeite jade was
first introduced into China, they called it Fet’Sui or in English kingfisher jade because the
brilliance of colors it had and also to distinguish it from the traditional nephrite jade.
Within time, jadeite passed nephrite in terms of value, and now a days it is considered the
gem jade. In today’s fine jewelry markets use jadeite jade almost exclusively; nephrite is
generally valued for its antiquity, carving excellence and other historical considerations
rather than its intrinsic material value. Cool fact about jade is both the terms jadeite and
nephrite refer to the kidneys because of early beliefs that jade was effective for diseases of
the loins.
Apart from its technical aspects, however, there is a magic about the stone that
inspired cultures as diverse as the Chinese, the Mayans, and even the court of Czarist
Russia. Its charms elude precise definition; jade reveals itself in the language of myth and
legend. Contrary to popular belief, what I have read is that jade has never come from
China. Some of the earliest known jade used by the Chinese (nephrite) most likely came
from Turkestan, which is northwest of China.
Jade and jade jewelry, especially jadeite and jadeite jewelry, continue to dominate
the Asian jewelry markets. The price and popularity of jade jewelry is on the rise with no
end in sight. Jadeite maintains its investment value in addition to its acclaimed beauty.
Jade will still serve a purpose of longevity, beauty, and meaning to people. Symbols and
forms carved into jade will have new and ancient values. Jade’s carvers can use traditions
in new forms, new expressions, and new concepts furthering humanity’s creativity and
values.
Jade is still carved and revered in China, British-Columbia, USA, and New Zealand
these days. New Zealand is the hub of contemporary jade art. Starting with the Maori,
traditional carving has led to today’s new age jade artists crafting fine jade carvings and
jewelry. New Zealander’s and Maori use their local jade called “Greenstone”, which is
now controlled by the Maori tribes. Kiwi carvers are unique because they have broken
from the traditional mold of “Maori” or “Chinese” form; today’s carvers choose their own
designs. For these reasons Jade will always be a choice of Stone the jewelry makers want to
use, placing it forever in the Jewel Hall of Fame.