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Harmony of Jade
by Shelagh McNally
Stone of The Loin
Jade is one of the most ancient stones we have. It resonates peace
and nurturing and is believed to improve memory while encouraging wisdom
and understanding by balancing emotions and calming the mind.
For many, jade symbolizes the East. But actually the word comes from
the Spanish "piedra de ijada" (stone of the loin) a name given
to the green stone brought back to Europe from Central and South America by
the 16th century Spanish conquistadors. In the 17th century the name jade
was also applied to the many stone carvings coming out of China. Both
cultures favored jade because of its smooth even texture that is perfect for
carving.
Roots in Ancient Civilizations
In ancient China, jade was considered a powerful amulet with the ability
to restore and renew life while strengthening the heart and lungs. Particles
of it were often mixed with rice and dew and then consumed to strengthen
muscles and harden bones. Jade carved objects were considered especially
prosperous. But jade was also used extensively in Prehispanic America.
Throughout Mexico, Central and South America, various tribes used jade as a
type of currency, making it into sacred death masks, offering it to the gods
or fashioning jewelry from it. The Maoris of New Zealand and the Incas, Aztecs
and Mayans in the Americas grace their holy altars.
But above all, it was in China that the charm and mystique of jade has been
paramount in the lives of the people for millennia. Treasured and revered for
its colour and durability, it became an integral part of that country´s
history and society, especially in the royal courts. At first it was used in
the manufacture of tools, but as the centuries passed, jade developed political
and religious significance, often employed by the Chinese emperors as a token
of power.
For thousands of years, the Chinese so venerated this historic stone that
they called it the "stone of China", believing that it brought serenity,
peace of mind and protected infants. They maintained that certain jade designs
had the power to ward off evil and, in accidents, absorb all bodily harm and
injuries of the wearer. Confucius saw in jade the symbols of harmony, humanity,
intelligence and justice, and he is said to have waxed lyrical over its many qualities.
To the people of China, jade is the most precious of stones, occupying the
same position as diamonds are held in the West. To them, it is the symbol of virtue
and beauty, terming it "the concentrated essence of love".
Jade Species
In 1863 it was discovered that jade from the Americas and Burma was
much different than jade from Central Asia, known in China as chen yu (true jade).
The American and Burmese jade was renamed jadeite while Central Asian jade was
then called nephrite.
Nephrite, also known as "greenstone", is used chiefly for carvings
and is the oldest, softest and most common type of jade. A magnesium/iron silicate
mineral consisting of an interlocking mass of fibrous crystals -- 6.5 on the Mohs
scale and it´s found in a various of colours: green, white, brown, grey and yellow.
Today, nephrite is mined primarily in Central Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Alaska, California and Wyoming in the U.S.A., and Canada.
Jadeite, is a sodium aluminum silicate mineral, denser than nephrite. It consists
of compressed fibrous-translucent granular crystals matted together, making it a
tough stone -- 7 on the Mohs scale. Jadeite is found chiefly in an extensive range
of green shades, lighter than those found in nephrite. It´s also found in
black, blue, pink, purple, red, violet and white colours. Jadeite has a much narrower
geographical distribution than nephrite, being found mostly in the stream beds and
hillsides of the Mogaung district of Upper Burma, and in very small amounts in California
and Japan.
The most valuable and most costly jade is an emerald green known as imperial
jade from Burma. Unfortunately there have been reports of a jade dyed to
resemble imperial jade. Such pieces can easily fool the untrained eye. However
genuine imperial jade gets it true color from its chromium lines that are easily
seen under microscopes.
Cabochons, Beads, Bangles and Pi
Jade is most often sold by the piece rather than per carat. Jadeite
bangles are also very popular in Asian countries as are beads. Necklaces
are often made using a flat donut-shaped disc called a pi. During the art
deco period, many exquisite jadeite necklaces were made with beads and
pi discs. They have fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars at auctions.
Today´s top jadeite is usually cut into dome shaped called cabochons.
Although the overall color is the most important value factor, attention is
also paid to translucency, texture and pattern. Certain patterns, including
moss in snow, are highly valued.
Evaluation Of Jade
One of the greatest challenges in the jadeite trade is the evaluation
of a material that is covered by a skin that typically hides all traces
of the color and clarity that lies within. This skin can be white, light to dark brown
or black.
Jadeite dealers are some of the world´s biggest gamblers. They buy
boulders of jade intact with only a tiny window cut in the side to
expose a small section of the interior. The buyer has no idea what lies
inside: valuable green jadeite or perhaps only white or brown-stained
inexpensive material. A dealer, usually using instinct to guide him will
pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for what may turn out to be the deal
of the year or a huge loss.
The primary value of all jade includes three features: colour and tone,
clarity and translucency. The best material are almost transparent of vivid
medium green with a total absence of veins or interior structures and complete
evenness of colour.
Colour is the most important factor in the quality of fashioned jadeite.
Top quality jadeite is pure green, medium tone and no brown or gray modifiers
should be present in the finished piece. Ideally, colour should be completely
even to the unaided eye, without spotting or veins and any form of mottling, dark
irregular specks, or blotches that detract from the overall appearance of
the stone.
The finest jadeite has no inclusions or other clarity defects that are
visible to the naked eye. Typical imperfections are mineral inclusions, which
usually are black, dark green or brown. White spots also are very common defects,
as are other intergrown minerals. The most severe clarity defects in jadeite are
fractures, which can have an enormous impact on value because jadeite symbolizes
durability and perfection.
Finally, the best jadeite is semi-transparent. Opaque jadeite or material with cloudy
patches typically has the least value.
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