What is Jade
In
Chinese Jade Treasury
© Asian Art Museum San Francisco
Incense burner, Lapis lazuli, B62J66.a-.b
In its narrowest definition, yu, the Chinese word for jade, refers to two distinct hard, fibrous stones, jadeite and nephrite. In its broadest definition yu also includes serpentine, quartz, and many other gemstones.
At the molecular level, nephrite is composed of dense mats of relatively long fibers, making it a tough stone that has a high resistance to breaking or chipping and finishes to a soft glow. Jadeite, made of shorter fibers, is harder than but not as tough as nephrite; jadeite has a resistance to scratching or abrading, and finishes to a bright shine. In their pure states, both stones are white and semitranslucent. The broad range of hues and tones seen among the jade objects on display here is the result of various chemical impurities.
While there are deposits of nephrite elsewhere in China, most modern sources are in the northwestern province of Xinjiang. Importation of nephrite from Xinjiang began no later than the Bronze Age, and it contributed to the development of the trade route known as the Silk Road. Jadeite is rarely found in China and did not come into common use until the mining of large deposits in Burma began in the late 1800s.
Examples of jade on view in this case call to mind the Chinese definition: "Jade [yu] is the beauty of stones."
1 Covered
stemmed cup, 1900–1949, Nephrite, The Avery Brundage
Collection, B60J144
2 Double
vase with dragons and chain, 1900–1949, Jadeite, The
Avery Brundage Collection, B60J320
3 Beaker
in an ancient shape, Qing dynasty, reign of the Qianlong
emperor (1736–1795), Nephrite, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Marvin L.
Gordon, 1991.88.1 [One of a pair - Argus]
4 Vase,
approx. 1700–1800, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Nephrite, The
Avery Brundage Collection, B60J438
5 Carp,
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Malachite, The Avery Brundage Collection,
B60J402
6 Water
container with cat and butterfly on a melon leaf, 1900–1949,
Jadeite, Gift in memory of Lee Herbert Fahnestock, 1992.77
7 Bowl
with hatched rim, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Agate,
The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J173
8 Box
in the shape of a crab holding a sheath of grain, 1900–1949,
Nephrite, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J398
9 Vessel
with ram’s-head handles, Qing dynasty (1644–1911),
Agate, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J871
10 Incense
burner, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Lapis lazuli, The
Avery Brundage Collection, B62J66.a-.b
11 Mythical
bird presenting a vessel, 1900–1949, Jadeite, The
Avery Brundage Collection, B60J24+
12 Beaker
with loose ring handles, Qing dynasty (1644–1911),
Rock crystal, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J463
13 Covered
incense burner, 1900–1949, Rose quartz, Bequest
of Isabella M. Cowell, B68J1.a-.b