Jade articles

Author: Zhou Xiaojing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This is a series of concise and practical small books specially designed for beginners in the field of collection or those interested in playing with cultural artifacts. Carry a couple of copies in your pocket, and you can hunt for antiques in the market based on the illustrations. Of course, you can also flip through, read, and set them aside after meals, during tea breaks, by the light, or before bed. The small format, light weight, and carefully selected items are designed to add no burden to your reading or use. Naturally, this series is not perfect like flawless white jade. If placed on a bookshelf, it may not shine as brightly as a major work, and you shouldn’t expect it to add more scholarly charm to your study. Yet, a small desk accessory, easily picked up or left behind, still retains a touch of elegance. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Commercial Press in Shanghai published a series titled "Myriad Libraries" edited by Mr. Wang Yunwu, a collection of small books. Who among the older generation of readers doesn’t know Wang Yunwu or hasn’t read "Myriad Libraries"? If "Myriad Libraries" is considered a model for popular reading, then in the 21st century, it is still relevant because there are always more people who read thin books than thick ones. Since the 1990s, with the boom in art auctions, people’s interests seem to have shifted abruptly from stocks and futures to antiques. For a time, the antique market became too hot and too chaotic, with new, old, real, and fake items all on display. Not only did young people get confused, but even seasoned antique enthusiasts felt overwhelmed. In this sense, to get ahead on the same starting line, they must acquire a large amount of new knowledge and information resources. As a result, catalogues of collections, auction catalogues, appraisals and appreciations, and academic monographs flooded the scene like falling blossoms. Those with a little money in their pockets, who want to find bargains or buy mid-range antiques for playing or speculative purposes, may, in the near future, see their eyesight improve and enter the professional ranks. But for now, what they need are intuitive, appropriately tiered, and easy-to-understand popular reading materials—just as mentioned earlier, for hunting, for leisure, and for flipping through by the light or before bed. The planning, writing, and publication of this "Practical Guide to Collecting Cultural Artifacts" fundamentally meet the reading needs of these readers. Every line of text in this book is a distillation of the author’s years of experience in appraisal work—a "condensed" work that could be expanded with minimal additions. May readers not dismiss it as small and insignificant. When you find that a good book is worth reading many times, the grooves in your brain will begin to form images of objects, features, and price levels, and your collection will grow richer. Then, it’s time to read thicker books. This book collects jade artifacts from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Republic of China and the modern era, accompanied by price references, identification points, era styles, craftsmanship, and decorative descriptions.
How to Use This Book:
1. Object Names The names of the objects listed in this book follow general conventions. If there are multiple alternative names, the more common one is used.
2. Era The dating of the main illustrations is based on the era-specific features of the objects. For those with possible cross-era attributes, there are generally two methods: 1. Directly labeled; 2. Placed in the next era.
3. Main Object of Illustration The main illustration is the primary object of textual interpretation. The selection criteria prioritize items commonly found in high markets for antiques, ensuring interpretive relevance. Additionally, the objects have been rigorously screened to minimize doubts about their authenticity. The book’s publishers have used advanced CTP technology to maintain high image clarity.
4. Auxiliary Illustrations There are two types: 1. Enlargements of specific parts of the main illustration; 2. Images of similar objects.
5. Identification Points The identification points listed around the main illustration are the author’s direct appraisal experience.
6. Object Knowledge This section covers knowledge related to the object, including era styles, craftsmanship, decorations, and material quality, as well as peripheral knowledge related to appreciation.
7. Price Reference The prices mentioned in this book are based on market circulation prices as a general reference and do not represent specific transaction agreements. The price reference for fakes is based on the general level of counterfeit production and is not applicable to high-quality fakes or crafts.
The "Practical Guide to Collecting Cultural Artifacts" series consists of 8 volumes: "Ceramics," "Jade," "Buddhas," "Furniture," "Bronze Mirrors," "Ancient Coins," "Inkstones," and "Nasal Inhalers."