Chinese jade vase with wooden lid and base, made in the 1950s

Ø cm 10 h cm 20

Chinese jade refers to jade mined or carved in China, dating from the Neolithic period onwards. It is the primary hard stone used in Chinese sculpture and has been revered for millennia for its beauty and symbolism.

There are two main types of jade traditionally used in China:

Nephrite is a silicate mineral of calcium and magnesium and the most prized form of jade in China throughout history. It has a white or sheepskin color, but can also be found in various shades of green, yellow, brown and black.

Jadeite is a sodium pyroxene mineral. Deep emerald green jadeite is what most people think of when they think of jade, but this type only became popular in China during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). This type comes in a wider range of colors than nephrite, including green, lavender, yellow, and orange.

Chinese jade has been used to create a wide variety of objects, including:

Ritual objects such as bi disks and cong tubes, which were used in religious ceremonies. Jewellery, sculptures, functional objects. 

Chinese jade is still prized today and is collected by people all over the world. It is a precious commodity and can be quite expensive, depending on the quality and rarity of the piece.