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Wingchuntaiji or Randy (as you are known in your inner circle),
I appreciate your input in the quiz and of course thanks for taking your precious time to contribute with your knowledge.
Nevertheless, we are not agreeing to several issues. I believe you are influenced by posting of many low end items that appear on the Forum. This jade carving has an illustrious provenance and was purchased in Beijing between 1907 to 1909. With certitude, it was not color enhanced, as you stated. The nice patina is natural and the permeation of a brownish-yellowish discoloration (in Chinese TuSha) appeared on several layers of plastic and paper, this carving was packed in my storage for the past 15 years, or so. In the past, I was puzzled about this permeation of color to materials that usually don't get stains, like plastic bubble, for example. My research on this issue did not bring any results as to my best knowledge, no phenomenon as such was ever described in the literature. One of my best friends, a Chinese scholar in jade, brought my attention to TuSha, the scholar could not translate and by the way, this is a word of mouth and not a scientific publication. In the archaic and ancient time, mercury was used for coating burial items, including jade. Cinnabar and red vermillion (mercury sulfide) color, were used intensively. When combined with a tree sap (cinnabar), mercury became less toxic, as the mercury would not be released on contact, rather, by prolonged resting on the surface. Another possibility, is the release of some fumes, or gases, radiating through many materials covering the treated jade. If the soil of burial place contained some chemicals that penetrated the jade surface, this could be another plausible theory. This sonorous jade most likely, dates to Shang period and in no way is a modern age replica, as you stated. In regard to your statement that "it is too thick and too small to make a sound. Real archaic jade Qings are large and thin." I am really curious where did you acquire the knowledge of this statement?
Without any prejudice, please cite me a reference where a sonorous jade of V-shape is listed. To my best knowledge, the only reference book where there is a mention of sonorous jade, is Berthold Laufer book written more than a century ago. Secondly, where did you see V-shape sonorous jade bigger and thicker than the jade carving I posted?. I cite the following paragraph from the book: Jade, 5000 BC to 1912 AD, Guide to collectors" by Mircea Veleanu: "sound emitted by these jade instruments was regulated by the thickness of the jade slab. The thicker the stone, the deeper and lower scaled the sound. Examples of sonorous jade in my collection (originating from George Marvin's collection) have different sizes, but the same thickness. This makes me believe that different sounds from these instruments depend either on the thickness of the jade slab or their size."
The V-shaped sonorous jade has 2 unequal arms and a central perforation. This instrument was rather used as a single instrument and not in a set. In my experience, V-shape sonorous jade carvings are much rarer than the regular sonorous jade used in sets containing up to 8 pieces. These sets of sonorous jade are composed of trapezoidal shape jade of equal size with 2 perforation on the apical part, suspended from a bamboo frame in 2 equal rows of 8 stones each. The scale was accomplished in this sonorous jade set, not by the size, but by the variation of thickness of the jade slab. You can see several photos of the sonorous jade sets on page 274, chapter 22, Jade musical Instruments, in the book "Jade, 5000 BC to 1912 AD, Guide to collectors". Further on, you state that the "real archaic jade Qings are large and thin". As indirectly or directly, you are claiming that the jade I exhibited is not genuine as presented, I challenge you to support your belief. For the benefit of the learning process, please present in an academic fashion, were you derived your knowledge, with citation of books, publications (with chapter, page number) etc. The major reference book on jade "Chinese jade from the neolithic to the Qing" by Jessica Rawson, did not exhibit or mention any sonorous jade. If you claim that your grandfather, or your Chinese jade dealer told you so, then you should know that this is not acceptable in a learning Forum. Further on, you state that "It might have been used for Fengshui because the item symbolizes a chime."
My response to your above statement is that the item is a chime and does not need to symbolize a chime. I am curious how you associated FengShui with the chime. The dynastic imperial jade used in many dynasties from Shang to Han were of different kinds used by the emperor in his girdle ornaments as a chime.
Awaiting you reply!
Mircea Veleanu
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Mystery nephrite jade carving - wingchuntaiji - Jan 30, 2009 (02:27 AM)