This Hongshan Culture abstract Jade(Nephrite) is among the best of the 'cloud' pattern group from this culture.

From Works of Art ,one can analyse, the subtle layers of Art Appreciation.SEE,OBSERVE,PERCEIVE and finally IMMERSE.

Lets take this Jade as an example.

01.SEE: Casual look and then attracted to take a closer look.

02.OBSERVE:The Jade is green and translucent.The Jade is a flat plaque and looking closer see that it is not completely flat but concave slightly in. The design is imaginative and well executed.

03.PERCEIVE:This level is usually reached only after background info is provided or researched.The culture is 5000 years old.Do they have the aesthetics genes to create this design?Stainless steel knife cannot even scratch the Jade.How did they 'carved' it and it is also a flat piece.More difficult,as they have to slice or find a flat pebble to pare it thin.So many questions,but for illustration,just one more:Why do they bother to produce it!

04.IMMERSE:After the perplexing fascination,one is immerse in the art piece.Becoming ONE WITH THE WORKS OF ART. Appreciating the artist and the culture that create it!

To expand your knowledge on Jade,visit the Friends of Jade website given in the links.