In the Neolithic Era of China,there are two Cultures that are noted for their Jade artefacts and in their veneration of Jade. One is the Hongshan Culture in the north east and the second is the Liangzhu Culture in Zhejiang Province. The Hongshan Culture is Profundity in Simplicity and the Liangzhu Culture is Jade Technical Supremacy.
This Jade Fitting aptly illustrates the technical skills of the Liangzhu Culture of ~4500 years ago. Note the following:
01.There is a 'Spirit-Face' on either edge of the slanted fitting.It is very difficult to achieve.
02.The entire surfaces on both sides are incised with oblong circular designs,so intricate that it boggles the mind.Usually when asked,how it is done,will reply that should go diamond mining around Zhejiang Province.
03.Another superb technical skill is the hole drilled from top to bottom to attach the fitting.Remember this is 4000 yrs old technolgy.
04.The Fitting's surfaces are not flat but convex out in the middle,again a difficult technical technique.
05.This is the typical 'chicken bone white'(jigubai) and previously used to refer as calcination of the Jade(Nephrite) but now know that there is no change in chemical structure when tested using Raman Spectrography which is a non-destructive test. For those interested in faking techniques. This 'chicken bone white' can be simulated by heating the Nephrite to over 900 deg C. for about six hours!!!
The Liangzhu Culture Antique Jades are the most sought after by collectors and thus the most faked. To know more about Liangzhu Culture Jades;the real and the fakes,visit the website of the Friends of Jade given in the links.
Antique and Antique Collecting
Antiques have always lured those with a passion for the past and its cultural significance. Antique collecting though is a serious hobby which requires the hobbyist to posses a great deal of information on the history and other correlating facts if they are to land a reasonable purchase. Most often if not antiques make their way into the mainstream market via simple garage sales, auction houses etc. wherein the owner would have overlooked the significance of these precious collectables.
A reflection and testimony of the glorious past, Antiques are undoubtedly rare. Perhaps that is why Antiques have been collected and preserved for over thousands of years as a souvenir and tribute to what has been and gone. After all, those heard are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter!
Antique collecting has been in the books since the 16th century, gaining momentum through the 18th century to grow into what is now a healthy international business thats on par with the art industry. Some individuals prefer to collect antiques from a specific era, while most are into specific objects and aim at a timeline based collection such as vintage cars or clocks from the 1950s for example. The purchase of antiques is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the effort that goes into their maintenance. Most objects would be anywhere in the range of 50 to 100 years old. The biggest culprit to an antiques degradation is exposure to natural elements, even the air in most cases!
Over the years, antique collecting has taken another curious twist as certain home décor trends these days reflect on a retro feel. For this reason a lot of long lost furniture and clothing styles from half a century ago have found their way back into the current world with small changes that help them amalgamate into the 21st century. This trend of commercially viable antiques has had a negative impact on the market as replicas of famous antiques have been making the rounds and authenticity issues are far too common. Examples for the same would be pendulum clocks, bone china and the 1970 – 1979 contemporary modern furniture.
When it comes to venturing towards a purchase, its best for an individual to take assistance from the nearest antique dealer organization as it would guarantee both its authenticity as well as cover any legalities. Most often the replica market supplies the same antiques at a much lower price and the buyer could suffer serious repercussions on purchasing from such sources as these pieces are not officially accounted for. Antique collecting needs to be met with diligence and maturity in order to successfully sustain the past in the present.
