Jade artifacts have been passed down for thousands of years, from primitive craftsmanship, simple grinding to meticulous carving. The art of jade carving has evolved from simple small pieces such as cigarette butts and bracelets from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China to the production of medium pieces in the 1970s and large-scale jade carving works in the 1980s and 1990s after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its technological characteristics include skillful use of materials, skillful production of waste materials, removal of dirt and grain, transformation of defects into jade, skillful use of colors, relief, round carving, hollow and transparent carving, and inlay assembly, forming the technological characteristics of jade carving. 1、 Applying techniques based on materials The use of materials and techniques is the primary technique in jade carving. Jade carving is created through craftsmanship and has no fixed form. Jade carving requires imagination and annotation on the jade without any alteration. Each work needs to start from material properties, colors, shapes, etc., and make the most of jade materials, especially in the creation of characters, flowers, birds, flowers, and animals, which is designed based on materials and takes unique paths. Jade carving has a long history of craftsmanship, and its materials and techniques are becoming increasingly reasonable. In history, small items were mainly used, with a single product and limited quantity. With the progress of craftsmanship and the improvement of skills, the skill of material application becomes higher and higher, and the works become more diverse and colorful. The shape, size, and reasonable use of colors of its jade carving are all achieved through the use of materials and techniques. 2、 To remove dirt and grain Dirtiness and grain are major taboos in jade products. Gouging out the impurities in the jade means removing them, making the jade more pure and bright. It is difficult to find jade materials that are completely free of impurities in large jade carvings. We need to do our best to remove dirt and shape them, design works based on their characteristics, and maximize the use of materials. During the production process of a work, impurities such as black, white dots, or grain like impurities may appear again or multiple times on the jade body, especially in the main part of the front. This is the most difficult problem for designers to deal with, and they should try their best to remove or "cover up" them. Many jade works have changed their original structure by removing dirt, which not only removes dirt spots but also makes their structural design more reasonable, which is a waste of effort for jade carvers. Remove the grain. A grain is a natural crack in jade, without a certain shape, direction, or pattern. The cause of grain formation is influenced by various factors such as natural forces and cold changes. The types of grain include broken lines, broken lines, turtle back lines, explosive heart lines, explosive shock lines, etc. In the selection and carving of jade, the first step is to pay attention to the treatment of grain patterns, either sawing the jade along the grain or avoiding the grain. Design according to the material shape after removing the grain. In the carving process after design, there are also many occurrences of grain patterns, called "lines" or "water lines". Designers and craftsmen have been pondering over how to remove the grain and transform it, which has had unexpected effects. Jade carvings have no fixed form, and removing dirt and grain may not be effective, but they have a creative effect of "benefiting from misfortune". 3、 Transforming blemishes into beauty Defects are a taboo in jade, but it is difficult to find crystal clear jade in jade. Especially after a hundred years of mining, cherishing jade resources and fully utilizing jade materials have long been noticed by jade carving experts, forming a carving process characteristic of "transforming defects into jade". The works created by Hua Xiu for Yu not only do not affect the work, but also make the image vivid, increase the sense of realism, and achieve effects that ordinary jade materials cannot achieve. 4、 Clever use of waste materials The purpose of using waste materials skillfully is to cherish jade resources, reduce the cost of works, and create jade carving handicrafts with the same value as or higher than the value of finished jade materials. Especially in fully utilizing non renewable jade resources, the use of waste materials skillfully is commendable. 5、 Clever use of beautiful colors The clever use of beautiful colors is a major characteristic of jade carving and is widely used in the jade carving industry. The jade color is mainly green, with a combination of yellow, black, red, white and other colors. There are colors such as lake green, apple green, grass green, and green white. Some jade is variegated, with red, yellow, ink, and green colors converging into one, making it colorful. Hemo jade has a dark green color, wrapped in a brown yellow jade skin. The rich colors and quality of jade provide a good material foundation for the skillful use of beautiful colors in production, and also make jade products exquisite, vivid, and realistic, giving people a lifelike and vivid feeling, and making people love them more truly. 6、 Relief sculpture Relief is one of the types of jade carving techniques. Shape or carve an image on a carved flat base, with the contour lines of the form approximating that of a painting, varying in convexity and concavity, not limited to form, mainly appreciated from the front. Relief is mainly used in vegetarian activities, furnaces, bottle smoking, and vessels, and other types of works are also decorated with relief. Jade carving works, due to various patterns and decorations in relief, make them antique, elegant and luxurious. There are many types of reliefs. Shallow relief: refers to the carving that is relatively shallow, with few overlapping levels, and its depth generally does not exceed 2 millimeters. Shallow relief requires strict checkmarks. The commonly used method of combining lines and surfaces to enhance the three-dimensional sense of the image; Middle relief: The "underground" is deeper than the shallow relief, and there are more changes in hierarchy. Generally, the depth of the ground is 2-5 millimeters, which is also determined by the thickness of the chamber wall. Deep relief: With multiple layers intersecting, it has a strong sense of three dimensionality. There are two main types of relief patterns: one is traditional various deformation patterns such as loop patterns, thunder patterns, hook lotus patterns, etc. One type is realistic patterns such as flowers, grass and insects, birds and animals, mountains and rivers, characters, and concrete dragon and phoenix, auspicious patterns, etc. Various deformed traditional animal patterns make the vessels ancient, solemn, and heavy. The plant patterns are rich and lightweight. The geometric patterns make the vessels stable and balanced. Deformable patterns are often applied to the abdomen, neck, and various edges of vessels. 7、 Transparent carving Open cut carving is a further development of relief carving, also known as hollow carving. It is to hollow out certain parts equivalent to "ground" or background on the basis of shallow or deep relief. Make the outline of the image more vivid, so that the work can reflect exquisite, transparent, and exquisite craftsmanship effects. Open cut carving increases the level of jade carving works, and many of the patterns in the works fluctuate up and down by two, three, or even four layers. Due to the increase in levels, the patterns and scenery are intertwined, and the distance of the scenery is different. Due to its complex craftsmanship and high difficulty in production, the method of drilling, penetrating, and grinding is adopted. As a result, the lines on the upper and lower layers of the hollow area are staggered and complex, making polishing the most time-consuming and laborious. However, the artistic effect of through carving is the best. 8、 Circular carving Also known as "garden sculpture", it belongs to three-dimensional sculpture. Both the front, back, left, and right sides must be carved, and the object can be viewed from any angle from all sides. The object is like a physical object, with only a difference in proportion and a solid volume. The most widely used varieties of round carving techniques are vegetarian and human figures. The Beiyu round carving technique is well-known throughout the country, with a suitable proportion of the body and lid, exquisite accessories, and gorgeous and luxurious decoration. The overall work is similar to a practical artifact, but it is a delicate handicraft. 9、 Internal carving Internal carving is a more complex craft. Carving two or three layers of scenery on a piece of jade is called a "masterpiece" in the jade carving industry. From the Republic of China period to the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, due to the limitations of tool conditions and the lack of proficiency in jade carving techniques, the technique of internal carving remained blank. After the 1970s, jade carving artists explored interior carving techniques and achieved breakthrough results. His works include the "Pretty Colored Bat Basket" designed by Li Hongcai. There are two bats carved inside the basket, looking out with their heads raised. Another work is a spherical object with three or four layers inside, which can be carved into landscapes or patterns layer by layer and rotated for appreciation, making it a masterpiece of jade carving. 10、 Thread combination Thread combination is the application of industrial threads and assembly techniques in jade carving crafts. After the 1980s, jade carving became popular as a large item. Introducing threads into jade products yields ideal results. In addition, although various crafts are described separately, it is difficult to distinguish a certain piece from a certain craft in jade carving works. Most high-quality works combine various crafts or focus on one craft while combining other crafts. The essence of the work lies in this. 1. jpg (30.29 KB, download count: 9) It is unnecessary to investigate the origin of Hotan Jade Since ancient times, Chinese people have had an indescribable affection for jade. The jade culture embodies the great national spirit, as the saying goes, "A gentleman without reason, jade does not leave his body.". China has always admired Confucianism, and Confucianism has a philosophy of valuing jade. People have always regarded jade as a symbol of character, status, and wealth. The ancients believed that the beauty of stone is jade. The elite of jade materials should be Hotan Jade. As early as in the Neolithic Age, the ancestors at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains discovered Hotan Jade. The precursor of China's colorful Silk Road was actually the Jade Road more than 6000 years ago. It was Hotan Jade that opened the transportation channel for East West exchanges. Today, Hotan Jade is still a wonderful flower in the Chinese culture. Li Xinling, a treasure expert who has been dealing with jade for over a decade. Rather than being an expert, I prefer to call him a person who cherishes jade. On him, there is less of the expert's coldness and more of the jade's warmth. The book Appreciation and Investment of Hotan Jade recently edited by him provides an opportunity for readers who like to collect and invest in Hotan Jade to get closer to Hotan Jade and understand Hotan Jade. Recently, the reporter from www.china.com.cn Culture Exchange asked Mr. Li about what Hotan Jade is, the classification, identification and maintenance of Hotan Jade. This "Hotan Jade" is not that "Hotan Jade" Miss Li, does Hotan Jade mean the jade produced in Hetian, Xinjiang? If not, what is Hotan Jade? Li Xinling: Jewelry and jade are divided into gemstones and jade. The definition of jade is a mineral aggregate produced in nature, which has beauty, rarity, durability, and craftsmanship value. The meaning of mineral aggregate is that many small minerals aggregate together. Unlike gemstones, they are single crystals. Polymers generally have no shape. Hotan Jade refers to the mineral aggregate produced in nature, which is beautiful, rare and durable, and its main mineral is tremolite. Hotan Jade has no concept of origin. Wherever it is produced, we call it Hotan Jade as long as its main mineral is tremolite. But ordinary people generally believe that Hotan Jade is the jade produced in Hotan, Xinjiang. However, the national standard means that wherever it comes from, as long as the main component is tremolite, it is called Hotan Jade, which is a broad concept. The narrow concept is the jade produced in Hotan, Xinjiang. And now we are promoting a broad concept. How are Hotan Jade generally classified? Li Xinling: According to the national standard, Hotan Jade is classified by color. Because the shape of the external features can be artificially modified, but the color remains the same feature. There are four color schemes from white to blue: sheep fat white jade, white jade, blue white jade, and blue jade. There are also green ones called jade, yellow ones called yellow jade, black ones called ink jade, and sugar colored ones called sugar jade. Sugar color is a special color. It refers to the color of Hotan Jade that is exposed to the surface or shallow surface after its formation. After temperature and pressure changes, or water washes, it brings in some minerals, or its own minerals become brown, tawny, and coffee after iron oxidation. We are accustomed to call it sugar color. In the past, when making jade, sugar color was not necessary. But with the appreciation of jade, the sugar colored part is also becoming more and more valuable. And some ingredients are half sugar colored, making the handicrafts very beautiful. It's a pity to throw them away. As more and more sugar and jade appear in the market, we will separate them separately. In addition, we classify them based on their sugar content: those with sugar content below 5% are called microsaccharides; Those with a sugar content between 5% and 30% are called with sugar or with sugar; Between 30% and 85%, it is the foundation of white jade, called sugar white jade, which is the foundation of blue jade, called sugar blue jade; More than 85%, we call it sugar jade. Therefore, Hotan Jade can be divided into eight categories according to color: suet jade, white jade, blue white jade, sapphire, topaz, black jade, jasper, sugar jade. These eight categories basically cover 95% of Hotan Jade in the market. Another type is classified based on its place of origin. We call the mountain material what is excavated from mining in the mountains; The mineral formed from mountain materials, under natural conditions, undergoes glacier movement and temperature changes, falls into the river, is washed and collided by the river water for a long time, and is ground into a circular shape. This is called material; There is another type that falls between mountain materials and sub materials, with slightly rounded edges of jade, which we call mountain flowing water. It is formed due to the long-term crustal movement, weathering and collapse of mountain materials, and their migration to the middle and upper reaches of the river bed due to the impact of floods; There is also a type of mountain or sub material that has already formed. Due to river diversion, it becomes a Gobi desert and is exposed to the surface. After wind erosion, it is picked up on the Gobi desert and we call it Gobi material. Rich Origin Characteristics and Jade Culture Many people brought back a piece of Hotan Jade from Xinjiang, and later found that it was actually Qinghai Jade or Russian Jade. So how to distinguish Hotan Jade, Qinghai Jade and Russian Jade? What are their respective characteristics? Li Xinling: Personally, I don't think it's necessary to distinguish. To judge the quality of a piece of Hotan Jade, as long as its color, texture and carving are good, it is a good thing, and there is no need to investigate its origin. In fact, there is no essential difference between these things. The mineral composition of the tower gate is tremolite, and the density, refractive index, etc. are the same. But due to the subtle differences in its origin, there are certain differences when people perceive it with their eyes. Qinghai cuisine has a slightly grayish white color and relatively high transparency. And its waterline is relatively heavy and numerous. A waterline is a line similar to the pattern on our palms, but it cannot be felt. Russian material is particularly white, stiff like white paper, with poor sharpness and relatively coarse particles. When using a flashlight, there is a grainy feeling, which we call saltiness, just like the feeling of salt piling up. And its sugar color is relatively heavy. Bracelets sold in the market, with a heavy sugar color, are more likely to be made in Russian. Xinjiang cuisine is relatively fine, with a soft white color that is not harsh, but also does not appear grayish. It has good sharpness. However, when determining which material it is, one cannot rely solely on one of its characteristics, but rather on a combination of several factors. Because not everyone has a special instrument to identify the quality of Hotan Jade, can you introduce some common identification methods for Hotan Jade? Li Xinling: In terms of identification, every thing has its fixed characteristics. Compared with other jades, Hotan Jade, from a scientific point of view, is to measure its density, refractive index, light characteristics, infrared spectrum, mineral composition and other characteristics. When we judge through our senses, there are several methods: first, check the smoothness of the jade. Is it naturally formed or processed. The luster and transparency of good jade give people a warm and beautiful feeling. Second, because the density of Hotan Jade is higher than other stones, it is heavier. Another thing is the color. You need to pay attention to the color of the jade and determine its genus. For ordinary jade enthusiasts, magnifying glasses and flashlights are essential tools. A magnifying glass can observe whether there are scratches, cracks, fractures, and other issues on the surface of the jade. A flashlight is used to see through the flaws inside the jade when there is insufficient indoor light. How to identify Hotan Jade and its imitations? Li Xinling: There are three types of imitations on the market that are easily confused: glass, marble, and quartzite. The earliest and most imitated one is glass. But the appearance of imitations of glass is fundamentally different from that of jade. Because the glass replica is not carved, but poured out using a grinding tool. For example, making a bracelet, pouring glass into a grinding tool, like flipping sand. And its luster is different from that of jade. Jade has a greasy luster, while glass has a glassy luster. In addition, there will always be bubbles inside the glass, and generally more than 90% have bubbles. As long as there are bubbles, it is glass. Such naturally formed things as Hotan Jade generally have no bubbles. Even if there are individual bubbles, they are still individual bubbles. Moreover, due to its low density, glass is relatively lightweight. The glass of the same size is relatively light, while Hotan Jade is relatively heavy. Imitation marble is relatively easier to identify. Because marble is very white in color and has a relatively low hardness. So with a small knife or key, there is a scratch, and with a needle, there is a white spot. But this kind of persecutive behavior is generally not done. In fact, if it is marble worn for a period of time, there will be some scratches on it. The most difficult to distinguish is the imitation of quartzite. His hardness is higher than Hotan Jade, so it is difficult to distinguish in hardness. However, the density of quartzite is lower than that of Hotan Jade and more transparent than that of Hotan Jade, so sometimes some flocs can be seen in it. And quartzite has a glassy luster, while jade has a greasy luster. Continuous warming only due to market supply exceeding demand Hotan Jade has been appreciating in recent years. What do you think is the internal reason for its appreciation? Li Xinling: I think there are three reasons. The first point is the high demand, which is the fundamental reason. Around 2000, there were only 40 or 50 stores selling Hotan Jade in Xinjiang, but now there are 5000 large and small stores, which has increased 100 times in a few years. So if there is a high demand, prices will naturally rise. However, in recent years, the mining output has also increased considerably. From the time of record to the time before liberation, the mining output was more than 900 tons, and the output of one year now is equal to that of the past few years. From the early days of liberation to the 1960s and 1970s, jade mining ceased. It was not until the 1970s that mines were established in various counties in Xinjiang, but the production was unstable and relied entirely on manual labor. The annual output ranges from a few hundred kilograms to several tens of tons. After improving the technology, a mine can produce 100 to 200 tons per year. However, in recent years, due to the rise in jade prices, more and more people have been mining. According to inaccurate statistics, during good times, Xinjiang's annual production does not exceed 1000 tons, while during bad times, it can reach one or two hundred tons, or at least 500 tons. Like Golmud Mine, two mines can produce four to five thousand tons per year. Therefore, with the increase of demand, the mining output is relatively large. The second reason is that in recent years, prices have appreciated, the renminbi has depreciated, and the prices of manual craftsmen have been increasing. Moreover, people have more money in their hands. But I think the fundamental reason is still the high demand. What misunderstandings do collectors have about the collection of Hotan Jade? Can you give some suggestions to collectors who collect Hotan Jade? Li Xinling: It is very popular to collect this term now, and many things can be collected. Chinese people have always respected jade culture. I think Hotan Jade is a good collection. Because it is rare and durable to preserve. I think there are four misunderstandings in collecting Hotan Jade. One is to collect white Hotan Jade. The white one is indeed quite good, and the price is also relatively high. But in recent years, it is not necessarily white that appreciates quickly. Blue jade, sugar jade, ink jade, and jasper also appreciate quickly, and there is a lot of room for appreciation. The second misconception is blindly pursuing sub materials. In fact, the parent of Hotan Jade's sub materials is mountain materials, so as long as there are good sub materials, they must also be found in mountain materials. In fact, only about 10% of the sub materials in the market are relatively good. Some people pursue leather, so the sub material must be made with leather. In fact, people used to think that skin was dirty and needed to be removed. But now things with skin are more expensive than things without skin. Some people pay a high price when they see the good color of the leather, but when they open it, the inside is very poor. I think we should first look at the meat before looking at the skin. Another thing is to pursue the origin, we must use Xinjiang materials. In fact, speaking of jade, there is a distinction between good and bad in every place. People nurture jade and nourish people How to maintain Hotan Jade? Li Xinling: Because Hotan Jade has good toughness and hardness, and is resistant to high temperature and acid and alkali, the maintenance is relatively simple. As long as you pay attention to storage, keep it separately to avoid being bumped. The most important thing is to wear jade regularly. The oil produced by the body will form a layer of coating on the surface of the jade, making it warmer and more moist.
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