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.