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Dear Forum: Several years ago I bought in Spain a bunch of supposed to be jade figurines.between 10 and 25 US$ After consulting Asian Art Forum debates I can not see they are neither jade nor old. They have not have been carved with traditional tools and are quite crude, but I wold like to know about this one. Is it traditional? The monkey size is 4,5x2,5 cms., and it can ot be scratched with a steel pin. Thanks. Luis

I feel that this is an artificially coloured Serpentine Stone, of recent manufacture. Did you do the correct scratch test.. with a strong steel needle make a 2 mm scratch. If it is black, then it is a hard stone, if it is white, then, in this case, it is Serpentine.
Ernest

Hi, Luis:

I enlarged your picture of the monkey and examined the tool marks found on it and they did look modern. This piece was probably "carved" after the 60s but not in the last ten years. Some of the more modern one were actually much worse. It is more than likely made of serpentine, probably dyed like Ernest said. However, the scratch test is not too much help in confirming if it is made of nephrite especially if it passes the test because bowenite (a type of serpentine) can also pass the scratch test. The good thing is if it can pass the scratch test then means it was made of older serpentine material. Today's serpentine coming out of China were almost softer materials that can be scratched. Your piece is actually not too bad. Just a little bit high in price. It is almost impossible to find any good jade pieces these days made of qaulity nephrite with good carving.

Bill

Thank you very much for your response. I was not able to write you earlier. When I bought these little pieces I knew most probably they were neither old nor authentic, but I knew I could be acquainted with a very interesting world knowing and studying, even as an aficionado. To find a good piece at the beginning is like a lottery: You usually lose, but there is pleasure on trying again with more knowledge on store. Thanks again. Luis

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