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Subject:Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Shari Sun, Nov 06, 2016 IP: 2600:0001:91d2:ec1e:

Hello Wise Ones! ☺
I need advice on how to clean this lovely piece and bring out her natural beauty which obviously hasn't been seen in a very long time. I know that I don't want to use chemicals or harsh abrasives, is Mineral oil my best bet...?
Oh and if anyone knows what the written mark/symbol means shown in one of the pics (inside middle piece of burner), please share with me. 
Thanks so much!
💜
~Shari in MI







Subject:Re: Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Nov 07, 2016

For starters, don't use an abrasive cleanser on your circa late 20th century censer, otherwise it might look a lot worse. True jade would not be scratched by most household scouring powders, but the powdery look of abrasions already present on the sharp edges of your censer suggest it is made of much softer soapstone (steatite), probably dyed to resemble jade. The muck on its surface was rubbed in intentionally to cater to what the Chinese producers of faux antiques recognize to be a Western perception that sees dirty things as old and not just filthy. While a good cleaning probably would destroy a certain amount of charm in the piece, you still might want to wash your hands thoroughly in antibacterial soap after handling it.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Shari Wed, Nov 09, 2016

Hey Bill, thank you so much for the info! I only know what the previous owner told me about this piece and the more I read about Jade the more I realize this probably isn't it. All I know is that I paid 400 bucks for this thing, did I get screwed? It's covered in layers and layers of soot and currently soaking in mineral oil. I've included pics of chipped spots.
I really appreciate your time, thank you.





Subject:Re: Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Nov 10, 2016

I looked around the internet and couldn't find anything right offhand that appeared to be quite as dirt-laden or carved in such an obviously rudimentary manner designed to appear old and possibly from the grave. Keep in mind that true jades were essentially sacred, as was the spiritual iconography carved onto them; they weren't allowed to get dirty in actual use for traditional purposes.

Be that as it may, here are a couple of censers, which while better carved in some respects than yours, probably are more indicative of the range of true value. The Live Auctioneers piece fetched a hammer price of $175, while the eBay "buy-it-now" asking price is $39.99:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/24628323_oriental-style-jade-censer-and-cover

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHINESE-FAUX-SPINACH-JADE-HARDSTONE-CENSER-INCENSE-BURNER-/321670932909?hash=item4ae514e9ad:g:YVMAAOSwv0tU4Xc4

The only sure way to know if a piece of stone is jade or not is to conduct a specific gravity test. See the following current thread:

http://www.asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=97340&PHPSESSID=fv33q6mk313avoib5r56vha4f2

However, you also can do a scratch test, which may reveal whether your censer indeed is one of the softer stones. You'll need a hard carbon steel point, perhaps the tip of a knife or scissors blade. Then attempt to scratch the surface of the piece in a spot like soles of the feet or inner lid which are not normally visible. But exercise caution; I'd be a bit afraid to try the test amidst all that mineral oil, which might lead to injury if your hands should slip, and could also obscure the desired powder trail that reveals the stone to be softer. In any event, wear protective gloves if choosing this option.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Super Fri, Nov 11, 2016

Do not believe it was made of jade (nephrite or jadeite) and do not believe it was old. If it came from China, postage will cost more than the piece itself. If this piece was made of real jade and old, it would cost a lost more, sorry. You would be better off buying small authentic Qing dynasty or early Republican Hetian jade pieces. If you like it, that is all that counted.

Subject:Re: Old, Carved Jade Incense burner how to clean... I'm clueless. ☺
Posted By: Shari Sat, Nov 12, 2016

Thank you Bill, you've been very helpful. I've searched high and low on the Internet and cannot find a piece even close to this one.
All it well, the answers will come, I love it either way but probably not 400 bucks worth haha.
Thanks again for your precise details. ☺
Shari in MI

Subject:A Jade Carving Cleaned With Clog Remover
Posted By: Jac Sun, Nov 13, 2016

I have cleaned jades using clog remover as suggested in the post by Anita Mui on the "How To Clean Jade?" thread -http://www.asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=32685

Just a few weeks ago I purchased a 37 cm long jade carving of 5 monkeys on a Lingzhi that is dirty with black stains and a whitish layer on 90% of the jade surface.

I soaked the jade carving in clog remover (containing sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants) for 2 days and used a bamboo charcoal brush and toothpick to remove the black stains.

See middle and bottom photos of the jade carving after cleaning and oiling with vaseline.

I did not take a photo of the jade carving before cleaning.

The jade carving has an asking price of SGD 380 and I paid SGD 120, from the flea market.

I did not buy it when I first saw it and neither did 2 other persons who examined it after me because it was dirty and not pretty.

I did not do a scratch test as I am confident it is nephrite jade from the look alone.







Subject:Re: A Jade Carving Cleaned With Clog Remover
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Nov 14, 2016

Jade is pretty resistant to harsh chemicals, but I'd be wary of using clog remover to clean anything made of soapstone, which is mostly talc, and may be subject to reactions with the chlorine and sometimes caustic other chemicals found in the clog remover.

Bill H.

Subject:Re: A Jade Carving Cleaned With Clog Remover - not a good idea
Posted By: Super Mon, Nov 14, 2016

It was always dangerous to add water to acid/alkali (base) solution such as NaOH and the heat and fume that created can be both dangerous and toxic. Anybody who had studied chemistry should be aware of that. There are always warnings on Draino (clog remover) that it should never be added to toilet bowl (contains water) and only added to drains. Further more, it was never a good idea to dip or clean any authentic jade pieces with any harsh chemical. Most jade pieces should only be cleaned with soft brush, warm water and mild soap.

Subject:Re: A Jade Carving Cleaned With Clog Remover - not a good idea
Posted By: John R Mon, Nov 14, 2016

You're stone sculpture appears to have been
artificially oxidized. This can be removed
safely by immersing it in sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. The commercial product is
called Oxyclean.

Subject:Re: A Jade Carving Cleaned With Clog Remover
Posted By: Shari Tue, Nov 15, 2016

Wow thank you for taking the time to post the photos and instructions! I definitely came to the right place!
The reason I won't add chemicals to the cleaning process has more to do with respect to the Eastern sacred beliefs concerning Jade (even if it probably isn't Jade).
I have however started to gently buff this guy with my rotary tool on the weekest setting - take peak at what I have so far (and don't judge my counter haha).
Sounds like some (one) assumes I bought this incense burner online... nope, I did not. I bought this from a retired local collector who traveled the world picking up authentic art while a career Sniper & Helicopter pilot in the Army. I have more of his pieces however this one was his pride and joy but I can't help wondering if he was so passionate about this particular piece, why was it stored in a cardboard box...? 🤔
Thanks to everyone for their input, you are amazingly helpful!
Shari







Subject:Cleaning A Jade Carving ..... Now.
Posted By: Jac Tue, Nov 15, 2016

I am in the process of cleaning a 21 cm jade rhyton which I purchased last Sunday. 

The top and middle photos below was taken today after soaking the jade carving in clog remover for 2 days and brushing it daily. 

I will leave it as it is for another day to see if more stains could be dissolved/removed with the clog remover. 

The bottom photo was taken yesterday, one day after soaking the object with clog remover.

I have photos of the rhyton before cleaning. 

The seller said the rhyton is made of jade. 

I did a scratch test and a burn test to assure myself that the material is not softer than steel or made of synthetic resin.

The sound that I hear when I tap the rim of the rhyton with the handle of a metallic spoon gives me some confidence the object is made from nephrite jade. 








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