Archaic jade is one of the strongest performing categories — and among the most heavily copied. The framework condenses to four words: material, craft, alteration, design.
1. Material
Most archaic jade is tremolite; the difference between Hetian and local materials directly affects tier. Read fineness, unctuousness and structure — acid-aged fakes often look chalky at the grain.
2. Craft: fingerprints of the period
- Neolithic to Shang-Zhou: low relief and double-incised lines, archaic hand.
- Warring States to Han: hairline engraving and Han eight-cut, forceful and crisp.
- Ming-Qing: wire-sawn openwork, dense fluid incising.
- Modern power tools: dry groove floors, dense chipping — nothing like old-tool patina.
3. Alteration: nature transitions, chemistry floats
Burial alteration layers and transitions, following fissures inward while the surface holds; chemically induced colours float uniformly. Calcified (bone-white) surfaces likewise differ between kiln-induced and burial-induced forms.
4. Design: a calendar of periods
Grain, rush-mat, chi-dragon and cloud-thunder motifs each have their window. Design must corroborate craft and form before dating is credible — never on one factor alone.
Browse comparable pieces on the Jade page, then submit via Consign — six or more photos in natural light with dimensions and weight.
