Jade

From the Blurb: Jade: valued above all other precious stones by the Chinese, fought for by the Maoris of New Zealand and offered as gifts to the conquering Spaniards by the Aztecs of Mexico, this rare and valuable mineral has a long and controversial history which spans 4,000 years and five continents. Jade, which was claimed as a cure for kidney disease by the Spaniards and buried in graves by the Chinese (who believed in imparted immortality), is known today mostly as jewellery in the familiar 'jade green'. But illustrated in this book, jade is seen to range from darkest grey-green to purest white, blue, brown, pink and gold. So hard and so difficult to work, jade is shown here carved into a multiplicity of objects-jewellery, weapons, bowls and vases-depicted in all the richness and variety of its many colours. J.P. Palmer, an Assistant Keeper at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, has provided a comprehensive introduction to the fascinating story of jade-what it is, where it came from, how it was carved and how it was used. Glowing and translucent with reflected light, jade is endowed with the special quality, peculiar to this beautiful stone, of combining gem-hardness with delicacy; fragility with impressive strength. It is unique. In the 54 full-colour plates more than 80 works of art are illustrated and there are eight black and white illustrations.