Jadeite Cabochons
1950-1999 (made)
| Place of origin |
In China a wide variety of translucent to opaque, green stones are generically referred to as "jade", however there are only two minerals - nephrite and jadeite - that are officially accepted as such and they can occur in many colours other than green. Both are hard and durable materials that have been used to carve both decorative and functional objects. Being different minerals, they have differing chemical compositions and structures, with nephrite jade generally being composed of interlocking fibrous crystals and jadeite jade generally being composed of interlocking, more granular crystals. However, they can sometimes be very similar in appearance which then require testing to separate. In their finest qualities, jadeite jade is the more highly valued.
The dull green varieties of both nephrite and jadeite owe most of the colour to the presence of iron impurities but the bright emerald green, translucent variety of jadeite is coloured by chromium and is known as "Imperial Jade". Imperial Jade is the most highly prized of all jade and is especially treasured by the Chinese.
The dull green varieties of both nephrite and jadeite owe most of the colour to the presence of iron impurities but the bright emerald green, translucent variety of jadeite is coloured by chromium and is known as "Imperial Jade". Imperial Jade is the most highly prized of all jade and is especially treasured by the Chinese.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Jadeite jade, fashioned and polished using abrasives and abrasive-charged tools. |
| Brief description | Four jadeite jade cabochons, in a bag, light green, brownish green, lavender and brownish orange, polished, Burma, 20th century |
| Physical description | Four polished, jadeite jade cabochons, one light green oval, one brownish green oval, one lavender oval and one brownish orange round. Each has a lustrous polish with characteristics typically associated with the use of traditional materials rather than diamond. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | |
| Credit line | Gift from Mr. E. Allan Jobbins |
| Object history | Donated by Mr. E. A. Jobbins. Stones come with a label stating they are "Examples of Burmese jade. Unregistered gift from Mr. JOBBINS", written in blue ink. ISEAD has a small amber reliquary (IS 6 - 1978) from Mr. E. A. Jobbins, Photographic Dept., Geological Museum, Exhibition Rd., London, SW7. They came with a chamois bag, hand stitched (7 cm. x 7cm.); inside the bag's flap is a written number 50.1956. |
| Summary | In China a wide variety of translucent to opaque, green stones are generically referred to as "jade", however there are only two minerals - nephrite and jadeite - that are officially accepted as such and they can occur in many colours other than green. Both are hard and durable materials that have been used to carve both decorative and functional objects. Being different minerals, they have differing chemical compositions and structures, with nephrite jade generally being composed of interlocking fibrous crystals and jadeite jade generally being composed of interlocking, more granular crystals. However, they can sometimes be very similar in appearance which then require testing to separate. In their finest qualities, jadeite jade is the more highly valued. The dull green varieties of both nephrite and jadeite owe most of the colour to the presence of iron impurities but the bright emerald green, translucent variety of jadeite is coloured by chromium and is known as "Imperial Jade". Imperial Jade is the most highly prized of all jade and is especially treasured by the Chinese. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | NOT REGISTERED.41:1 |
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| Record created | January 18, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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