Why young collectors are falling under the spell of China’s age-old jade love affair
History of mineral used in ornaments, jewellery and tools once reserved only for emperors revealed in book by Hong Kong jade enthusiast Michael Liu
In Chinese history, no other mineral has been as prominently admired as much as jade.
It has been used in ornaments, jewellery and tools and such was its allure that at one stage jade was reserved only for the use of royalty.
Michael Liu, an avid collector of jade plaques, who has published the book, In Pursuit of Fine Jades: Ming Court Belt Plaques, says that there are two different kinds of jade: jadeite and nephrite.
The one thing about collecting and looking at antiques is that you are always learning – you always find something new
The jade plaques featured in his book are usually made of nephrite and only highly ranked Chinese government officials and the emperor himself were allowed to wear them during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
In the past these jade plaques became a sign of one’s status, as well as acting as a sort of ID card for those who were permitted to wear them.
Some of these plaques, on closer examination, reveal details of history.
One such green jade belt plaque, pictured below, for example records a traditional children’s game.
