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Hello everyone,

I am finally going to China this August for an entire month and while I'm there I would like to buy a lot of jade. I'll be going to Shanghai, Xian, Nanjing, and many other places that are all fairly well known for their extensive markets. I was wondering if anyone here could give me suggestions. Of course I realize that most all antiques in these markets, unless from a highly reputable dealer, are fakes, but I have been a collector for many years and hopefully will not make too many unfortunate purchases.


If anyone has some suggestions as to specific vendors, please let me know. Also, does anyone know the price range for nice jade in China? I'm talking 19th, 18th century pieces. The really nice pieces I find I want to add to my collection, but I plan on reselling a lot in the US. Suggestions with this last question would be VERY appreciated (I have never bought jade in China before).


Thank you very much in advance!

-Severin Salvestrini

It may interest you that the Chinese are coming to Canada and the USA in order to purchase quality Jade carvings, which are now cheaper here than in China.
Ernest in Canada

Dear Severin,
it is illegal to export antiques, including jade from China. And making a public statement that you intend to do so is not too smart either!
Kind regards
Mehmet

Upon reading your post I realize now that they have changed the export laws! I was still thinking antiques from the late 18th were legal. If this is not the case than I assume the antiques that come from China these days are illegally exported?

Both Ernest and Mehmet have given very good advice! The prices will only be higher in China. Whatever you buy, you 'll need to demand for an official receipt. With the receipt, you 'll not get in trouble when trying to bring the item out of China.

Dear Randy,
I think that being given an "official receipt"will confirm its' status as a reproduction!
Kind regards
Mehmet

May I repeat my statement: A good chap in China told me that it is easier to make a quality document than an genuine antique.My experience has shown that if you get an official document to export an antique..it usuallly is not an antique.In the last few years the "antiques" have been very well made, and they are getting better by the day.
Ernest

You might wish to schedule a side trip to Hong Kong to shop the local Yaumatei Jade Market or one of the established dealers elsewhere in the territory. The Hong Kong economic rules remain pretty much free of the fetters imposed elsewhere in China.

I'd only suggest that you know what kind of jade you wish to purchase and how to go about authenticaing it before you walk into a stall or shop. Otherwise, it is my understanding that Hong Kong retains its British style laissez faire-type of economy. Jade is not on any prohibited list of exports as far as I know.

I've included the link for the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau's jade market page herewith.

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :HKJadeMarket

Hi, Bill H:

Do you know how impossible it is to find authentic 18th or 19th century jade carvings in the Yaumatei jade market? Their stuff are actually worse than those listed for sales on eBay.

If Severin is smart, he will be buying jades from Randy, bringing them to China and resell them there and I believe he would at least earn enough for his air ticket.

B

I figured nothing had changed, but it sure beats being dragged off to jail by the PSB.
Cheers,
BH

Dear Severin:

Your message may be the scariest thing I have heard for a while, it is almost like a single lady goes car hunting by herself or brings her car to a garage (mechanic) for repair by herself.

How many piece of jades do you intend to buy in China? You want only 18th and 19th century pieces? How much money will you bring with you? I would like to find out where in China one may find a reputable jade dealer who will have many pieces of authentic 18th and 19th century jade pieces for sales at bargain prices?

I am truly puzzled. Are you a jade collector or are you a jade dealer yourself? Please forgive me for asking: Do you know anything about jade at all?

The reason I am asking is because like others here who had tried very hard to tell you, there is almost no way, I mean NO WAY, you can buy authentic 18th or 19th century jade pieces in China and bring them back to Oregon, U.S.A. and resell them for a profit.

The Chinese dealers can sell any authentic jade carvings at higher prices in China than they can fetch in U.S.A. Why should they sell them cheap to you? If they tell you a story for their cheap prices (like finding them in the 3-Gorge Dam), you better start running.

What you end up doing, will be buying a lot of high-priced fake jades from China, bringing them back to U.S., only to find out they are totally worthless and then have to try to decide what to do with them - throw them away or pass them to others as "authentic jades".

My advice is, you will be much better off investing in the stock market, buying gold coins or lottery tickets than attempting to buy "authentic" antique jades in China and resell them in U.S. for a profit.

I know honesty some times hurts and I apologize if my bluntness may have offended you.

Cheers.


Bill

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