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Does anyone have tips for dating these lovelies? A cursory tour of Google shows very similar cups cited as Qing or late Qing - just wondering if there's anything in particular to look for to distinguish age. They're translucent sea green (flash images make them appear opaque), not precisely identical in size or weight, but the difference is minimal. The silk bases may not be original the cups. They appear pretty new and some of the cups really don't nestle in comfortably.

Thanks in advance for any input!

I've seen similar items pop up in smaller sets at estate sales here in Florida. Those had been drilled to accommodate plain metal bases, whereas others sold at auction in recent years (links and prices below) also look to have been drilled but for fancier enameled metal bases. I defer to you as to which link reflects the more realistic auction price but believe none of these items are made from true jade (nephrite or jadeite). Rather the stone looks more like serpentine, a.k.a. Bowenite, or another softer stone that frequently is found labeled as jade in Asian import stores and catalogs.

Best regards,

Bill H.

SOLD: $160.00
AKIBA ANTIQUES
3 N. Federal Highway
Dania Beach , FL 33004
United States
3:00 PM - Nov 14, 2012

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/13804700_chinese-jade-and-enamel-tea-candle-holder

SOLD: $30.00
Gordon S. Converse & Co.
57 Lancaster Avenue
Malvern, PA 19355
United States
8:00 AM - Jun 21, 2014

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/27159402_jade-candle-holder-and-cloisonn-base

Thanks for those links - very helpful! I looked at these in a local antique shop today -- 4 for $280 (marked down from $95 each). Of course I didn't give them the scratch test. ;•)

Sorry, I do not believe these cups were made during the Qing dynasty (prior to 1911). I believe they were made of serpentine instead of nephrite jade. You can probably scratch one of them at its bottom with a pocket knife or needle, if it can be scratched and left with a white line, then it was for sure made of serpentine. During Qing dynasty, especially that of Emperor QingLong or earlier, the sales of Hetian nephrite jade especially mutton-fat and white were highly regulated by the imperial government, just like the trade of salt, smugglers of either jade or salt would be executed (cutting off their heads). For that reason, any quality Heitan nephrite jade would be worth their prices in gold. At that time, just jade material for a pair of small bowls cost about 5,000 taels of silver. That was a lot of money. It wasted a lot of material in making bowls and cups, therefore material alone it would cost a fortune to see any Qing dynasty Hetian nephrite jade cups, even those that were made of bai yu (dark green nephrite jade). Even today, it would still cost a fortune to "make" any nephrite jade bowls/cups. There may be some ages with your cups though and to have twelve of them (enough for a Chinese round table)together is not easy. If you enjoy them, that would be the most important thing. Thanks for sharing. Super

Thanks for your knowledgeable input! It's more than I'd hoped for and extremely helpful. And yes - a needle scratch does leave a fine white line. Now I won't feel too cavalier if I decide to use them to hold tea candles. ㋡

Thanks again!

First of all, get a specific gravity test, because I do not think that it is Jade. Perhaps we are looking at Bowenite, or a softer stone (scratch test)

ERNEST

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