THINGS TO LOOK FOR

Click on the topic of interest Not Jade         Wrong Dating         Things to look for Jade is a very hard and fibrous gemstone that is actually not carved but worked with abrasives and “sanded and ground down” to create form, shape and detail. In ancient times the process to create a jade gemstone object was time-consuming, devotional, and labor intensive making each jade object a mystical symbol of status, power, prestige and protection. Ancient artisans used relatively primitive lapidary tools made of bone, stone and bamboo to create Neolithic jades. The abrasives that were probably used were fine quartz sands that were worked into a slurry or paste to abrade the surface of the jade gemstone. A drill made of bamboo with a resin tip and a garnet chip powered by a bow action was employed to remove larger material and drill Chi Energy Holes. Detecting Nephrite Jade with the Scratch test: The most commonly used test is the scratching test. This is usually not done correctly. When nephrite jade is scratched very hard with steal it can leave a mark, especially softer termolite jades. The hard fine-grained jades will always past the test but often softer jades do not. You should not use a fine pointed steel object but rather a more rounded pointed instrument. Find an area at the base of the object (do not do this on faces or detail) and gently press down and scratch the surface with the point of a  scissors. You do not have to "dig" into the object. If it is not nephrite it will usually leave a deep mark. If it is only a surface mark then it is a hard stone and probably nephrite jade. The true and accurate test for Nephrite is a density test that can be conducted by a mineralogist or a Jade expert. This test will at least allow you the satisfaction of knowing that it is a hard stone and not a cheap soapstone carving. Examples Of  Fake Jades Soapstone Shoushan stone Serpentine Shoushan stone Neolithic Copies: are relatively easy to detect because the evidence of large flat surfaces reveal the use of large lapidary saws. Although there is evidence of the use of Lapidary saws during Neolithic times it was not until the advent of the Liangzhu Culture that there is evidence that large Saws were employed. Drills were more commonly used in the early Neolithic period to remove mass material from detail areas of the gemstone. Jade Nephrite's hard, dense and fibrous nature makes it a great challenge to shape and work. Even today with modern power tools like diamond Saws, diamond tip drills, and diamond abrasive compounds jade is still a time intensive gemstone to work and shape.  It is this large diversity between primitive hand tools and modern tools that make it easy for Jade Experts to detect the fakes. Dynastic Copies can be more difficult to detect because the Chinese are masters of reproductions. Throughout the history of China each following Dynasty either copied or incorporated motifs of the early Dynasty. As is revealed in the artifact evidence Shang Dynasty motifs are favored for power and shape and were repeatedly recreated in jades until the modern period. A jade expert will use various yardsticks of measurements to determine the age and authenticity of jade specimens. With each dynasty there is often subtle changes of style and shape that reveal it true origins. What is often the case is  that the authors of these look-alike older jades were simple inspired and did not attempt to reproduce exactly early jades. P’an-Kung Copies are perhaps the most difficult to detect because during the Ming and Qing Jade artisans strived to master reproductions of earlier jade works. At this period of Chinese history a most popular fade surfaced fueled by the demand of connoisseurs and collectors of ancient jade. Ancient jades were worn close to the skin to bring out their beautiful colors and luster thus often destroying their patina. This practice was called P’an-Kung and all jades presented to the emperor were often treated in this manner. The demand for ancient jade was so great and the respect for the ancient burial sites of the ancestors created a tremendous shortage and extremely high price for ancient jades. In response to such a market the Ming and Qing jade artisans and Lapidary shops started to produce copies of ancient jades. Very sophisticated techniques that employed the treatment of chemical, heat and burial of jades would give the appearance of ancient jades. For the jade expert these are quite easy to detect even though they are now 500 years old and they are indeed ancient.   Summary: Lets face the facts.....Jade Nephrite artifacts are indeed complicated to identify and authenticate. Always seek a reputable jade expert who can assist you in learning how to detect fakes. My 30-years of study and collecting ancient Jade Artifacts qualifies me to share with you  my passion, my knowledge, and my collection of rare gemstones from heaven. In the near future I will be revealing "detecting fake secrets" that will help you increase your appreciation and expertise for ancient jades.   -ian  (Fung Gen Qua)