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Paper Jewels – Medieval European Illuminated Manuscripts

Paper Jewels - Medieval European Illuminated Manuscripts
Here is a brilliantly colored leaf from a 13th century illuminated manuscript depicting scenes from the Aeneid, a classical work by the Latin poet Virgil.  The lavish use of bright colors like blue, red and gold is typical of high quality medieval illuminated works.

Long ago, in a more genteel age, the famous Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran wrote in his moving poem “Sand and Foam” that “We live only to discover beauty.  All else is a form of waiting.”  This is a Truth that we all too often forget as the harsh demands of our hectic day-to-day lives relentlessly engulf us.

It is also an adage that underscores what makes art so special.  Art is concentrated beauty given tangible form.  Regardless of the medium used to create it, each stroke of the artist’s paintbrush, stylus or pen is made with the intention of distilling the divine essence of beauty into a physical form.  And nowhere is this striving for unearthly beauty more obvious then when looking at the sumptuous designs and rich colors of medieval European illuminated manuscripts.

An illuminated manuscript is a handwritten book (or single page of such a book) that has been decorated with colored pigments.  European illuminated manuscripts were manufactured during the medieval period from approximately 600 CE to circa 1550 CE and were usually in Latin, the lingua franca of medieval Europe.

Illuminated manuscript production was driven by two different institutions.  European monasteries, the last bastions of literacy during the dark ages, became centers of book production after the collapse of the Roman Empire.  Later in the Middle Ages, as European commerce and wealth grew, private scribes’ guilds began to form.  These corporate-like guilds typically produced gorgeously illuminated manuscripts for wealthy clients who could afford the high cost of production.

 

Medieval Illuminated Book of Hours Leaves for Sale on eBay

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Illuminated manuscripts cover a wide range of topics, but most of them are religious in nature.  The most common types of texts encountered are Bibles, Psalters, Books of Hours, Breviaries, Bestiaries and musical/antiphonal manuscripts.

Psalters were religious documents intended for private use that contained excerpts from the Old Testament book of Psalms.  Bestiaries were encyclopedic tomes that contained entries of different types of animals, some real and some fantasy.  Breviaries were prayer books used by monks to guide their periodic daily prayers.

Books of Hours were personal prayer books used by private individuals.  Some of the most magnificent illuminated manuscripts to survive from the later middle ages are Books of Hours that were commissioned by extravagantly wealthy patrons.  A good example of this opulence is the priceless Tres Riches Heures of the early 15th century French nobleman, Jean le Duc de Berry.

The creation of an illuminated manuscript was an involved and time consuming process that involved many different stages.  These precious documents were committed to dried animal skin – usually sheep or cow – which was known as parchment, or vellum, if made from calfskin.  Parchment is extremely durable and will easily last for centuries, if not millennia, as long as it is stored in a climate controlled environment.

 

Medieval Illuminated Bible Leaves for Sale on eBay

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Parchment preparation could take months by itself, and a full book might require the skin of 100 cows.  After the parchment was ready, it was ruled so that the written text would be straight.  Then the text itself was added via quill or reed pen.  Next, initials, borders and figures were outlined followed by the application of gold or silver leaf and other pigments.  Finally, all the pages were assembled and bound, usually in a leather or wooden cover.

A typical illuminated tome might have easily taken many different highly skilled medieval craftsmen hundreds of man hours to create.  By the later Middle Ages these steps were usually executed in a proto assembly line process by different individuals, each of whom was a master in his own area of expertise.

Illuminated manuscripts were produced in a time before synthetic dyes.  This meant that saturated, vibrant colors were rare, highly prized and exceedingly expensive.

Gold and silver colors were produced by delicately applying paper-thin gold or silver leaf to a document.  Vermillion, a high quality red, was made from a powdered ore of mercury called cinnabar.  An intense green came from crushed malachite, a semi-precious copper carbonate mineral, while the renowned deep blue of ultramarine originated from another exotic, semi-precious stone called lapis lazuli.  Malachite and lapis lazuli were rare in Europe and had to be imported thousands of miles from the remotest, most inaccessible mountains and deserts of Asia.

Other, more common materials, like lead, iron, or organic matter, were also used in the production of various pigments, but these often resulted in less intense colors.

 

Medieval Illuminated Antiphonal and Music Leaves for Sale on eBay

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The invention of Gutenberg’s famous movable type printing press in 1453 signaled a sea-change in the way books were produced.  Until that time the effort and materials that went into an illuminated manuscript meant that books were expensive luxury items.  And the more richly illuminated a book was the more expensive it became to produce.  In an age of drab earth tones, only the very wealthiest members of society could afford these brilliantly hued repositories of treasured wisdom.

Over the course of the century following its introduction, the printing press changed that situation completely.  Book production ballooned after the advent of Gutenberg’s press, increasing dramatically between 1450 CE and 1550 CE due to the new technology.  Traditional, labor-intensive illumination techniques were wholly unable to compete with the cheaper, faster printing press.  Consequently, illuminated manuscript production rapidly declined until output was essentially nil by the middle of the 16th century.

People crave beauty.  Once our more basic biological needs have been met – food, water and shelter – it is only natural for humans to seek out exquisite objects of refinement and elegance.  And there are few things of greater artistry than medieval illuminated manuscripts.  Laboriously, painstakingly crafted by hand at every stage of their creation, medieval European illuminated manuscripts represent the pinnacle of late medieval art.  And yet these wonders of human ingenuity can be wonderfully affordable investments.

A single illuminated page with modest yet enchanting adornments can be acquired for only around $300.  More complex and colorful individual leaves that radiate distinctive medieval European style are readily available to the connoisseur for around $1,000.  Prices escalate quickly as the amount of decoration increases however, and vibrant, fully illustrated pages can easily sell for several thousands of dollars each.

Fully intact books are usually prohibitively expensive, routinely selling for tens of thousands of dollars – even if imperfect or pedestrian in execution.  Exceptionally fine, complete manuscripts command even higher prices and rapidly enter the lofty domain of major museums and the ultra-wealthy.

If we all live to discover beauty, then surely medieval European illuminated manuscripts are beauty made manifest, descended to earth as a revelation to us.

 

Read more in-depth Antique Sage medieval art investment guides here.


Lustrous Lacquer – Antique Japanese Lacquerware

Lustrous Lacquer - Antique Japanese Lacquerware
A finely crafted Japanese lacquerware jewelry box employing raden (inlay) ornamentation.  The iridescent mother of pearl decorative inlay contrasts sharply with the coal black background, creating an interesting and visually powerful effect.

It is said that the Japanese have a distinct national character.  They are widely considered to be industrious and extremely attentive to detail, yet also staunch traditionalists.  As a result, the Japanese have traditionally excelled at repetitive, highly-skilled crafts that take many long years of training to perfect.  This unique mix of Japanese cultural attributes has given rise to one of the world’s great unsung art forms – Japanese lacquerware.

Urushi, or Japanese lacquerware, exudes the island nation’s sleek minimalist, yet still naturalistic style.  Flowers, mountains, trees and birds dance across lustrously polished lacquer surfaces as if alive.  The soft glow of antique lacquer adorned with a stately gold crest of medieval Japanese nobility evokes the prestige and glory of feudal, Edo-era Japan.  Inlaid mother of pearl decoration bursts into iridescent animation, radiating vibrantly against a smooth, burnished lacquer background.  Lacquerware is truly Japan’s most original, and perhaps finest, national craft.

While used in China as long ago as the 3rd century BC, lacquerware only spread to Japan in the 7th century AD.  Although not native to their island, the Japanese soon fully embraced this demanding handicraft.  Over the passing centuries Japanese craftsmen constantly innovated, eventually raising lacquerware to the nation’s pre-eminent art form by the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the 18th and 19th centuries.

As The West came into contact with Japan during the Age of Exploration, Europe became obsessed with the intricate, fanciful designs and mesmerizing luster of its fine lacquerware.  The ill-fated, late 18th century French queen Marie Antoinette was famous for her Japanese lacquerware collection.  So was the European monarch August the Strong, the early 18th century King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.  In fact, the word “Japan” itself became a synonym for Japanese lacquerware in England during the Georgian era.

 

Edo & Meiji Era Japanese Lacquerware Boxes for Sale on eBay

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The hard lacquer coating used in the production of Japanese lacquerware originates from the toxic sap of the urushi tree (Rhus verniciflua).  This sap contains the same chemical irritant found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.  Urushi sap is harvested in a very similar way to natural rubber from rubber trees.

A series of parallel grooves are cut into the urushi tree’s bark.  The sap that weeps from these wounds is collected, filtered and purified before being applied to a base object.  Once processed, urushi sap loses all its toxic characteristics and becomes completely safe.  The sap can be used on a wide range of materials including paper, plastic, metal, leather and glass, but is most often used on wood.

It takes anywhere from 5 to 40 individual layers of sap to complete a piece of Japanese lacquerware.  After each layer is applied by hand, the wet sap is hardened via a chemical process known as polymerization by subjecting it to a sauna-like environment of elevated heat and humidity.  This is followed by laborious sanding to prepare the dried lacquer to accept the next coat of sap.  This painstaking layering process continues with progressively finer sanding grit until the final layer is polished with an incredibly fine abrasive – traditionally powdered stag horn and oil.

The resulting hardened lacquer finish is incredibly durable, resisting water, salt, acid, alkali and alcohol with ease.  It can also resist temperatures up to approximately 300 degrees centigrade (572 degrees Fahrenheit)!  Lacquer’s only apparent weakness is its propensity to degrade after prolonged exposure to the harsh ultraviolet rays of strong, direct sunlight.

Japanese lacquerware is so enduring that it is common for pieces to last over a century, even with regular use.  In fact, the old Japanese saying about lacquerware is “Once you buy it, it will last through your grandchildren’s generation.”  In spite of Japanese lacquerware’s extreme toughness, using it in the microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator or oven is strongly discouraged because temperature extremes can cause the wood base to warp, thus damaging the lacquer finish.

A variety of striking decorative techniques are used in Japanese lacquer-work.  Most commonly, the lacquer itself is dyed – usually a deep cinnabar red or charcoal black.  Of course, the lacquer can also be left clear if the artist wishes to accentuate an object’s underlying wood grain.  Another technique frequently used is called “maki-e.”  In maki-e, powdered gold or silver dust is sprinkled onto the still wet lacquer in the shape of a decoration.  Once the lacquer is cured, the gold or silver dust forms a glittering, shimmering metallic design that is permanently embedded in the surface of the hardened lacquer.

The final type of decoration commonly encountered is called “raden.”  Raden is an inlaying technique where small pieces of bone, ivory or mother of pearl are inset into the surface of an item to form a design or picture.  Multiple layers of clear lacquer are then applied over the entire item and polished to a high luster.  Japanese lacquerware crafters are true artists, often using a combination of contrasting decorative technique simultaneously for maximum visual effect.

 

Traditional Japanese Lacquerware Bento (Lunch) Boxes for Sale on eBay

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Most Japanese lacquerware shares similar styles, motifs and forms regardless of its date of manufacture.  This can make date attribution difficult.  Edo and Meiji era (pre-1912) Japanese lacquerware designs often have a slightly stiffer and more formal appearance, even when portraying naturalistic scenes.  However, by the time of the Taisho and Showa eras (1912 onwards), decoration becomes very subtlety looser and freer in execution due to Western artistic influence.

Another dating hint is when a distinctly non-Japanese artistic style is employed.  For example, Art Deco design elements would suggest an early 20th century origin.  Japanese lacquerware was also produced in different forms over the decades.  For example, incense boxes and Inro (a Japanese wallet for use with kimonos) are indicative of Edo or Meiji era 19th century lacquer-work.  While still notoriously tough to date, all of these clues used together can help to properly attribute Japanese lacquerware.

When buying Japanese lacquerware for investment purposes, the foremost consideration is quality workmanship.  There is a very broad quality range of lacquerware available in the marketplace today.  Low quality lacquerware is hastily manufactured using synthetic, polymer-based lacquers instead of genuine sap from the urushi tree.

In addition, poor quality specimens will invariably use far fewer layers of lacquer than a high quality piece.  Good quality lacquerware will always possess many layers of urushi lacquer – and even more layers when richly decorated.  The delicate artistic treatment of any decoration is another hallmark of fine vintage Japanese lacquerware.  A legitimate, investment-grade specimen will possess intricately detailed designs or scenes that are precisely rendered.  Poor quality lacquerware will have sloppily or nebulously executed designs.

When looking for good investment returns, it is best to avoid Japanese lacquerware that is plain, with no decoration.  While Japanese craftsmanship naturally tends toward the stylistically uncluttered, lacquerware with no embellishment whatsoever is unlikely to ever be highly desirable.  As with all antiques, condition is also of paramount importance.  As a general rule, heavily damaged examples should be avoided.  Minor damage to lacquerware can often be repaired and thus may be acceptable in otherwise exceptional or historically important pieces.

Although lacquer can be coated on a variety of base materials, high quality Japanese lacquerware is almost always applied to wood.  Plastics are often used as the base for cheaper, lower quality pieces using synthetic lacquers.

A good way to check the quality of a vintage lacquer item is carefully balance it loosely in one hand and then tap it with your finger.  Natural lacquer over wood will tend to give a clear, resonant sound while cheap, synthetic lacquer over plastic will give a dull, lifeless thud.  It is no coincidence that fine musical instruments through the ages – ranging from 17th century Stradivarius violins to 1950s Gibson Les Paul electric guitars – have traditionally been constructed from fine tonewoods coated with many layers of natural lacquer.

 

Vintage Japanese Lacquerware Bowls & Plates for Sale on eBay

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Within a specific class of antiques, it is a general rule that the older the item, the more expensive it becomes.  This rule only marginally applies in the case of vintage Japanese lacquerware.  Even recent specimens from late in the 20th century are very desirable if they are well made.  Due to the highly-skilled and labor-intensive nature of lacquerware manufacturing, little high quality production emanates from Japan in any given year.  And because fine lacquerware crafting does not lend itself to automation, this situation is unlikely to ever change.  Therefore, there is little worry that the market will suddenly be flooded by modern, high quality lacquerware.

As with all antiques, pricing for Japanese lacquerware varies greatly with quality.  19th century Edo and Meiji era lacquerware is typically rather expensive, with prices ranging from just over $200 for simple examples to several thousand dollars for ornate, expertly crafted ones.  Taisho and early Showa era lacquerware from the first half of the 20th century is nearly as expensive as older specimens.  Japanese lacquerware of more modern vintage is usually slightly less costly, with entry-level investment-grade examples starting at a little over $150 each.

Japanese lacquerware is truly one of the greatest investment secrets of today’s art world – a glittering gem in the rough.  And it is a testament to the nature of the Japanese people that they have managed to keep this magnificent art form alive for over a thousand years.

 

Read more in-depth Antique Sage Japanese antiques investment guides here.


When Europe Loomed Large – Antique European Art Medals

When Europe Loomed Large - Antique European Art Medals
A late 19th century bronze art medal featuring Franz Joseph I, the ruler of the now defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1848 to 1916.  This specimen comes in its original box, enhancing its desirability.

Art doesn’t have very many rules.  But it does have one immutable law.  It must be beautiful.  This truism might seem obvious to the casual observer, but the world today doesn’t always make sense.

As an example, let’s briefly examine Jackson Pollock’s well-known drip painting in the abstract expressionist style, No. 5, 1948.  The work is a confused jumble of earth-tone paint splatters interspersed with random splashes of yellow.  To say that the oil on fiberboard painting is difficult to appreciate is a bit of an understatement.  In fact, it looks more like the unfortunate outcome of a sick child projectile vomiting his baseball stadium meal of a hotdog, soft pretzel and coke than a work of art.

And if abstract expressionism’s lack of aesthetic appeal wasn’t enough to deter you, prepare for sticker shock.  This particular Jackson Pollock – No. 5, 1948 – last sold in a private sale via Sotheby’s auction house in 2006 for a mind-boggling $140,000,000.00.  That is 14 followed by 7 zeros, or $140 million dollars.

And if you’re still interested, keep in mind that the traditional art market is over-run with fakes.  It would take decades of intense study to acquire the knowledge necessary to reliably distinguish a genuine Jackson Pollock work from the legions of forgeries being peddled by con artists.  In fact, even the experts can’t agree among themselves if some well-known works can legitimately be attributed to Pollock or not.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the aspiring art collector had an alternative to buying absurdly priced, frequently counterfeited, abstract paintings of dubious artistic merit?  Well, there is another option: antique European art medals.  Medals, which resemble large presentation coins, are typically composed of bronze, silver-plated bronze, silver or vermeil (gold-plating over solid silver).  Unlike commemorative coins they have no stated face value and are not legal tender.

Although medals have been struck throughout the world, the most attractive and collectible examples originate from Europe.  Pieces from as early as the 18th century can be readily acquired, although their artistic zenith occurs from the mid 19th to the early 20th century.

Europe underwent dramatic political, social and technological changes from circa 1850 to World War II.  On the one hand, scientific advancements propelled the continent forward at breakneck speeds.  First railroads, then cars and finally airplanes connected Europe as never before while the advent of electricity ushered in an age of glittering, sophisticated cities.

However, at the same time Europe was still hopelessly anchored to its medieval past.  Kings, emperors and monarchs of every description ruled over almost every nation on the continent.  The aristocracy not only still existed, but believed itself to be the ordained political elite by virtue of ancient lineage and feudal legacy.  All these cultural crosscurrents combine vividly on antique European art medals, bringing this tumultuous time of rapid change to life.

 

Antique French Silver Art Medals for Sale on eBay

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Art medals are often large, with dimensions occasionally exceeding 50 millimeters (2 inches) in diameter and 62 grams (2 troy ounces) in weight.  This results in extremely impressive works of art that can be substantially larger than a U.S. silver dollar.  These generous sizes make medals a perfect medium to express the engraver’s art, allowing the artist to fully explore the subject over an unrestricted expanse.

As presentation pieces, medals are usually struck with extremely detailed designs in very high relief.  They rarely suffer from flaws – like weak strikes – commonly found in mass-produced, circulating coinage.  Medals also excel as miniature works of art because they are typically struck in very limited quantities and receive minimal wear.  This contrasts sharply with regular coins, which are minted by the million and often experience very heavy wear due to circulation.

Like any legitimate work of art, very high quality medals were oftentimes signed by the artist.  Many of the best known medalists were French, reflecting France’s leading position as an engraving center in the 19th century.  This isn’t surprising considering France’s world-wide reputation for producing art of the highest quality.

In addition to their typical round format, some of these French masterpieces were struck in rectangular shapes known as “plaques” or “plaquettes”.  French medals, as well as other European medals, echo the grandeur and confidence of the continent’s assorted empires and kingdoms during its cultural apogee of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

European medals feature a wide variety of subjects from important historical figures such as kings, queens and emperors to prosaic pastoral scenes of cows and fields.  Mythological themes and national personifications also make prominent appearances.  A topic often encountered in medals from Germany and Switzerland was shooting competition awards while France was famous for its wedding medals.  Pieces celebrating royal coronations were created in almost every European nation.

Medals can be found commemorating an almost endless number of subjects in a myriad of styles – everything from aeronautical motifs in sleek art deco minimalism to Napoleonic busts rendered with staid neo-classical realism.  A striking collection could be built around country of origin, theme or style of art, to name just a few.  Medals really are a garden of earthly delights for the discerning, yet cost conscious, art aficionado.

 

Antique NGC Certified Swiss Silver Shooting Medals for Sale on eBay

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When investing in antique European art medals, size matters.  As a general rule, the larger the medal the more desirable it is.  The kind of metal used in a piece is important too.  Examples in bronze usually sell for somewhat less than equivalent medals in silver.  Sometimes pieces are even found with their original presentation cases intact which increases both desirability and resale value.

As with most antiques, damaged or excessively worn medals should be avoided.  Eye appeal is paramount.  Medals that feature certain popular subjects – like cars or railroads – usually trade at higher prices than their more mundane counterparts.  Occasionally medals are certified by a third-party grading service.  This is beneficial as it ensures a medal’s authenticity.

One would expect a medal struck for the 1897 Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria to command a rather large premium.  Such a historically important item not only boldly proclaims the opulent glory of the late 19th century British Empire but also simultaneously exhibits the pinnacle of the engravers art.  Surprisingly, however, these specimens can be had for under $200.  Other fine European medals in both bronze and silver can be purchased for $60 to $300.  However, even the very largest and finest medals rarely exceed $500.

This means that a stunningly beautiful collection of one or two dozen impressively sized medals could be acquired for only a few thousand dollars.  In an art world dominated by ugly $140 million dollar abstract paintings, European medals represent a secret oasis of reasonably priced, accessible beauty.

 

Read more in-depth Antique Sage rare coin investment guides here.

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Read more in-depth Antique Sage antique silver investment guides here.


An Alluring Enigma – Rough Jade

An Alluring Enigma - Rough Jade
A 1.2 pound (556 gram) block of very high quality, rough nephrite jade from British Columbia.  Notice the bright, evenly distributed green color and the obvious translucence near the edges where the material is thinner.  These are both indicators of good quality jade.

We like to think we have it all figured out these days.  The disciplines of science, engineering and computing have all converged to give us wonders beyond comprehension.  And while the advances of modern technology are truly amazing, they do tend to bleed a bit of the color from the world.  When science presents an answer for every conceivable question, doesn’t that rob the universe of just a little of its beauty and mystery?

Maybe, but mystery still abounds for those who seek it.  For example, jade – an exotic green hardstone venerated for millennia by a multitude of pre-modern cultures – still retains all the complexity and enigma of untamed nature.

There is simply nothing like holding a block of fine, rough jade in your hands.  Its softly mottled, translucent colors mesmerize the eyes even as your fingertips dance across its dense, glassy surface.  Jade reflects light in a unique way, giving its surfaces a slightly diffused, almost dreamy appearance.  And yet jade’s ethereal appearance is really a clever deception; the cryptic stone is actually harder than steel.

Jade is perhaps nature’s most perfect material, a thing that man in all his centuries of striving has still not equaled, much less surpassed.  Is it any wonder that it has been revered in East Asian cultures for thousands of years?

The Chinese, in particular, have an affinity for the precious material that is truly legendary.  A telling ancient Chinese proverb states that “Gold is valuable, but jade is priceless.”  The Chinese believed – with some justification – that jade embodied heavenly perfection on earth.

Other sophisticated Pacific Rim cultures, including the Korean Silla Dynasty, the great pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations and the New Zealand Maori, have also revered jade over the centuries.  The Chinese Qing Dynasty, in particular, was renowned for creating prized masterpieces in jade.  But it was Mughal India that arguably produced the very finest jade carvings of all time – foremost among them the wondrously delicate and fanciful Shah Jahan Cup.

Surprisingly, jade comes in a multitude of different colors in addition to its well-known green – everything from white to black to blue to lilac.  The term jade also actually refers to two different, mineralogically distinct varieties – nephrite jade and jadeite jade.  Both of these types have very similar physical characteristics and are considered true jade.

Technically, nephrite jade is a calcium magnesium-iron hydroxyl silicate, while jadeite jade is a sodium aluminum silicate.  These characteristic chemical compositions give nephrite and jadeite slightly different micro-crystalline structures.  But these differences are largely inconsequential to everyone except for gemologists; all jade possesses amazing physical characteristics.

Jade’s tenacity or toughness – its ability to resist breaking, chipping or cracking – is legendary.  It is substantially tougher than steel; a blow strong enough to deform steel might leave a similarly sized piece of jade undamaged.  This mythical attribute was widely exploited by pre-historic and ancient peoples who carved jade into highly functional axe heads and knife blades.  The treasured material’s fabled toughness has also allowed delicate jade carvings from distant cultures to survive centuries of time without so much as a single chip.

As if its extreme toughness were not remarkable enough, jade is also exceptionally hard.  On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, jade registers between 6 and 7, versus just 5.5 for most types of steel and glass.  It also compares favorably with quartz, which has a Mohs hardness of 7.  In fact, jade is so hard that the term “jade carving” is actually a misnomer.  Jade is simply too hard and tough to carve effectively.  Instead carvers slowly and painstakingly abrade rough jade into the desired shape using ultra-hard garnet, corundum or diamond grit.

 

Untreated Rough Guatemalan Jadeite Jade for Sale on Etsy

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Historically, the nephrite jade used in ancient and medieval Chinese art was found in the Xinjiang province of western China.  Jade from this source was known as Khotan or Hetian jade.  In the 18th century China began to import jadeite jade from adjacent Burma (now renamed Myanmar).

Today, most good quality nephrite jade originates from the imposing mountains of British Columbia, Alaska, Wyoming, New Zealand and certain parts of California and Russia.  Some fine jadeite jade is also found in Guatemala, a source once exploited by the ancient Mayan civilization.

Jade is usually found in the river valleys of remote, rugged mountains, rendering mining a frustrating, backbreaking endeavor.  A substantial amount of heavy equipment is used in jade extraction, such as industrial-sized hydraulic spreaders and diamond saws.  Jade, in the form of water-worn pebbles or rocks, has traditionally been mined from alluvial (river) deposits.  Sometimes jade boulders weighing several tons are found, but they only rarely contain fine material.

Intensive mining activity due to the insatiable global demand for jade has exhausted many alluvial deposits of first-rate material.  Therefore, jade mining has recently begun to switch over to primary, in-ground deposits.  This development has driven up exploration and extraction costs considerably, but is necessary to maintain adequate supplies of high quality jade to the market.

Considering that it is possible to buy good quality rough jade by the pound or kilogram, the uninitiated may conclude that jade is a common material.  This would be a woefully incorrect assumption.  Jade mining powerhouse British Columbia – currently the world’s major source of nephrite jade – only produces around 400 tons (362 metric tons) of the coveted stone per annum.  This amount might seem impressively large until one learns that global annual gold production is close to 3,000 tons (2720 metric tons) per annum.

In addition, China’s traditional source of jade – the remote Xinjiang province – is nearing exhaustion today.  And jadeite jade has traditionally been even rarer than nephrite jade, with Myanmar and Guatemala the only significant producers today.  Good jade is astonishingly difficult to find and only getting rarer as time passes.

 

Rough Jade Blocks & Slabs for Sale on eBay

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Predictably, jade prices have exploded over the last decade, increasing by approximately 10-fold between 2005 and 2015.  This is largely due to skyrocketing demand from China’s burgeoning middle class and nouveau riche.  Jade has always been central to Chinese culture and the country’s recent prosperity has translated directly into massively increased demand.

As an unfortunate side effect the supply of China’s native Khotan/Hetian jade has begun drying up, leading to its counterfeiting on a truly grand scale.  But this presents the alternative asset investor with a unique buying opportunity.  North American, Central American and Australian/New Zealand jades (and to a lesser extent Russian jades) have been somewhat overlooked in the marketplace, leaving them underpriced relative to traditional Chinese and Burmese jades.

When investing in rough jade I believe it is advisable to pass on pieces that are thinner than about 1/3 of an inch (8 millimeters) in any one dimension.  It is difficult for an artist to carve a thin jade slab into a desirable statue, cabochon or bangle.  However specimens of stellar quality are an exception to this rule.

Avoid purchasing specimens with prominent or numerous fractures.  These flaws are not only unattractive, but may also indicate durability issues.  A little-known quality test is to closely examine any cut edge that has a 90° angle.  If the edge looks razor sharp with little or no chipping, then you know you have a good quality jade.  Conversely, if the edge is ragged or heavily chipped, then the jade is probably of lower quality.

Keep in mind that although jade can be dyed, waxed or bleached, most North American and Central American rough jade is not treated.  This is one of the major benefits of buying this kind of rough jade.  However, don’t make the mistake of believing that no North American/Central American rough jade is treated.  If it looks too good to be true, especially at a bargain price, then it probably is.

For superior returns, avoid purchasing jade that has unappealing or lackluster colors.  However, it is important not to confuse poor color with unpolished surfaces.  Rough jade is often not given a smooth, finely polished surface because it is assumed it will be further processed in the future.  Most rough jade sellers will wet their specimens with water before photographing them in order to convey a truer sense of the stone’s final appearance when fully polished.  This is perfectly acceptable if properly disclosed.

 

Untreated Rough Siberian Nephrite Jade for Sale on Etsy

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Jade pieces with evenly distributed, attractive colors or pleasing mottling are most desirable.  Look for specimens that are at least 3 or 4 ounces (about 100 grams) in weight, although this rule can be relaxed for exceptional pieces.  Don’t be scared away by irregular or asymmetrically-shaped rough; these odd shapes are often an asset to the skilled jade carver.

Although jadeite jade is rarer than nephrite jade, don’t let this be the sole, or even primary, criterion that drives your decision making.

Don’t feel the need to limit yourself to only green jade.  Other colors may have similar, or even better, investment potential compared to the more traditional, green-hued jades.  Most importantly, look for jade that is at least somewhat translucent.  Translucency is a reasonable proxy for overall quality in jade.  The more translucent a piece of jade, the finer – and hence more desirable and expensive – it is.

Rough jade is at once alluring and mysterious, yet also eminently tangible.  It is also surprisingly affordable, if sourced from North America or Central America.

A small 3 to 5 ounce (85 to 140 gram) block of medium quality rough jade can be purchased for only $40 or $50.  Prices escalate with both size and quality with multi-pound (one kilogram and heavier) specimens costing $200 to $800.  Truly gargantuan pieces can easily exceed $1,000, as can the very finest specimens.

Exceptionally transparent or unusually colored blocks of jade are rare and will command whatever price the market will bear at that time.  A judicious investment in rough jade may be a savvy way to participate in the extraordinary economic growth of China.  A stone of unusually fine properties, jade is definitely an asset worth owning.

 

Read more in-depth Antique Sage bullion & gemstone investment guides here.