Because of the good environment of the burial stratum, many ancient jade are unearthed to show a smooth and pure appearance, giving people a feeling of "ancient jade is like new". In this case, if there is no conclusive research basis, it is easy to be rejected or ignored by ancient jade collectors, and become a buried relic.
This is also one of the common dilemmas faced by the ancient jade collecting community.
Shijiahe culture, jade head, collection of the Palace Museum
Shang Dynasty Humanoid Pendant Collection of Aurora Museum
In recent years, whether in the collection world, auction houses or online media, the identification standards for ancient jade have basically stayed in the traditional concept. These criteria include: valuing amphibole jade and despising local jade, paying attention to the appearance of the jade table and ignoring the internal texture, preferring the standard ancient jade to the ingenious shape of the ancient jade.
Therefore, most people generally agree that ancient jade has the following characteristics: the jade surface has obvious gray skin and pulp, has a typical erosion phenomenon, and is rich and diverse, has a mild luster at the "window", and the characteristics of amphibole materials are obvious. These ancient jades are usually the first choice of "raw pits", followed by "mature pits" that are orderly and well-known, or have obvious characteristics and are clear at a glance.
Western Zhou Dynasty Yuyang Shanxi Museum Collection
Western Zhou Monkey-shaped jade ornament Shanxi Museum collection
However, in the traditional mode of thinking, most of the ancient jade, except for the ancient jade with the above characteristics, can be rejected by people, and even if they are genuine, they will not be immune to the archaeological environment. An important reason for this, of course, is that in recent years the quantity and quality of fakes have reached an astonishing level, leaving people confused when confronted with a wide variety of antique jades that closely resemble the real thing.
However, even if a real ancient jade looks as good as new, as long as we look closely, we can always find traces of antiquity in it.
Western Zhou Dynasty Jade Cow Collection of Shanxi Museum
Western Zhou Dynasty Yutu Quwo County Yangyu Village unearthed Shanxi Museum collection
For ancient jades that seem to be new, compared with those ancient jades that have obvious erosion or rich unearthed information, people tend to have subconscious vigilance, especially when their identity is unknown, this vigilance can easily turn into rejection, affecting the judgment of their authenticity.
Or we always rely on experience to find fault with the characteristics of suspected ancient jade, which leads to confusion in the identification of ancient jade.
Western Zhou Dynasty Jade Collection of Shanxi Museum
Western Zhou Dynasty Jade Kui Dragon Tengzhou Museum Collection
Here, we should learn from the successful experience of our predecessors and scholars, but we still need to further discuss and explore specific concepts and methods, and at the same time need a scientific, rigorous and rational attitude.
Although those ancient jades that have the inherent characteristics of ancient jade but have a vague appearance are rejected by traditional connoisseurship thinking, they should be considered as treasures or fine products among ancient jade.
In other words, in addition to the pursuit of authenticity, excellent texture is also an essential condition in ancient jade collections. Only with a good texture can ancient jade resist the erosion of external factors and keep it clean. It is conceivable that it is more important to adjust our mindset of appreciating ancient jade to improve the level of collection and aesthetics?
Spring and Autumn Kui dragon pattern jade huang Yangzhou Museum collection
Spring and Autumn Hook Cloud Pattern Jade Huang Shanxi Museum Collection
Warring States period green jade dragon shape pendant Henan Museum collection
Warring States Jade Dragon Collection of Shanghai Museum
Warring States Jade Twisted Silk Pattern Collection of the Palace Museum
Western Han Dynasty White Jade Valley Pattern Collection of Xuzhou Museum
Western Han Dynasty white jade double dragon pattern Shouheng Xuzhou Museum collection
Eastern Han Dynasty, white jade cicada, Hebei Museum
Western Han Dynasty cicada-shaped jade cicada Yangzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty relief beast pattern white jade with hook Hebei Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty Hook with Moire Chi Collection of Shanghai Museum
Western Han Dynasty Guwen Qingyuhuang Xuzhou Museum
Western Han Dynasty valley pattern jade bi, Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty thunder pattern jade ring Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty dragon and phoenix pattern jade Huang Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty dragon and phoenix pattern chiseled white jade pendant Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty Jade Jianjue Xuzhou Museum Collection
Western Han Dynasty jade beast head Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty dragon-shaped jade pendant Xuzhou Museum collection
Western Han Dynasty jade pendant Henan Museum collection