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Subject:Hong Shan style Jades
Posted By: Caroline PJ Wed, Apr 06, 2016 IP: 82.28.231.37

I was given a number of jades by my husband a few years ago, that were passed on to him. I have not really had a chance to look in to them until now but felt, after reading some of the Jade collector opinions on here, that perhaps you could help me with them as I am a complete novice. I have two that look particularly old, with a nice lustre, no sign of tooling marks, no obvious soaking/dying, the correct specific gravity as detailed by Eric Hoffman and on one of them (I presume a Cicada) sign on one bottom side of years worth of wear. The only test I have not been able to conduct yet is hardness. These two feel right, where a number of the others don't so I thought I would start here to find out some of your thoughts. Thank you!







Subject:Re: Hong Shan style Jades
Posted By: Ernest Wilhelm Thu, Apr 07, 2016

it looks liked a face in the Second photo, could you take another photo of it straight at that face.
Ernest

Subject:Re: Hong Shan style Jades
Posted By: Super Fri, Apr 08, 2016

I believe the title of your message is accurate - Hong Shan style.

Both pieces, IMHO, are modern Hongshan fantasy pieces, usually combined two Hongshan subjects, like in the first one, with probably a pig dragon (zhulung) and a cicada. Unfortunately, neither the material or carving quality of either piece is anything resembles or close to the quality of any authentic Hong Shan pieces. When you said "the correct specific gravity as detailed by Eric Hoffman", I presume you meant that of nephrite? It is possible that they might be made of nephrite but it does not resemble any authentic Hongshan material I had ever seen. The most noted red flag is their total lack of the unique pristine gem like luster most often seen on the surfaces of authentic Hongshan pieces.

Now of course, since I am not a Hongshan jade expert, therefore I can be wrong. However, from my previous dealings with Mr. Hoffman, I do not believe he had ever sold any authentic Hongshan pieces, that may tell you how rare they can be. Thank you for sharing your pieces with us. Super

Subject:Re: Hong Shan style Jades
Posted By: pipane Sat, Apr 09, 2016

Hello,

These jade pendants shape and material are consistent with modern fantasy copies.

Regards,
P.

Subject:Re: Hong Shan style Jades
Posted By: Thayne Fri, Sep 30, 2016

I don't agree with it being modern fantasy pieces- if they were just jade pigs, I would maybe say yes, but the fact both of them are two different bug forms leads me to believe they may be real. The Hongshan people coveted bugs- and this love of entomology paved the way for silk worms and moths to be coddled and silk and weaving to be invented! The Hongshan people also combine subjects quite frequently and may be the inventors of the totem pole, this is not an indication that it is fake, but another clue that it could be real.

The beast and the bird, the dragon and the phoenix is an example of one of those animal combinations from way back when that is still seen in modern China, but can be traced all the way back to the Hongshan culture- in which these animals were probably the dog and the falcon originally.

What happens with all these Hongshan pieces is that someone digs them up, then wants to sell them, but there are varying degrees of surface patina they experience based upon how much exposure to elements they endured and what kind of material they are to begin with. So the looters will polish the surface more to make the item be more presentable to the public. What is in the hole, what you typically can't see without at least a hand lens, is the real key to distinguishing a fake in my opinion.

Besides the hole shape which is distinctive and most often a cone shape- if the hole has been well worn and almost worn through, chances are it may be real. If the hole is still plugged up by rocks and dirt, chances are it may be real too. If the hole has more patina on the surface of the stone, like a crust that colors the rock typically grey, tan or white or there appears to be organic material- brownish and easily scraped (remember many of these pendants were worn by people when they were buried) then the chances are that it is probably real too!

To me they seem real enough, particularly with embedded dirt as well as the smoothness and wear of the stone even on old dings and scratches. From the wear on your holes they also appear genuine, and the second piece may have even been retired by its owner from use because it became so thin. The Hongshan people were apparently the world's first salesmen- and the holes seem to be purposefully made so they wear out eventually and the wearer needs to obtain more replacement pendants. Perhaps this is even why jade became favored as a stone instead of harder ones like agate or crystal. Easier to carve as well as needing to be replaced more often? Anyway, it is a thought on the subject.


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