The Immortal Stone: Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century

"The Immortal Stone" covers the most important periods of jade in Chinese history, drawing on examples from the extraordinarily rich collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The use of jade declined after the collapse of the Han empire and it was not until the Ming and Qing periods that jades began to circulate among affluent members of Chinese society. This fluctuation in the use of jade throughout the centuries is discussed fully in this beautifully illustrated book, covering the concept of jade in a Chinese context; its value and significance in Chinese society; its use on tombs and the major cultures and periods when jade was most frequently found on tombs; its daily use in the Ming and Qing dynasties; the Imperial collection from the Qing dynasty and the problem of fakes in the market today. Showcasing 105 jades from the collection at the Fitzwilliam and including pieces from museums in China and Taiwan, this is a stunning portrayal and history of this exquisite craft.