Jade
Historical Value
Jade- two stones with one face. Nephrite jade, revered in China as the “Stone of Heaven” and jadeite jade, known to the ancient Mesoamerican cultures as the “Eternal Stone”, both share the same name yet are distinctly different materials. Supported by one of the longest known histories of any gemstone, jade elicits a deep, universal connection that stretches across the globe from Asia to the Americas.
Jadeite and Nephrite
Jadeite jade is found almost exclusively in Burma and Guatemala. The world at large was introduced to Burma’s jadeite only after 1784, when it was first traded with China and totally captivated the emperor and his court, dominating the fine jade market to this day.
Nephrite jade is the historic material of China, used for ceremonial symbols, carvings, and ornaments for more than 5000 years. Today it is mined mainly in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and far western China and is predominantly used in costume jewlery, though there are a few rare, sought after varieties.
Mayan Jade
The ornamental use of jade in the Americas dates back over 3,000 years, being revered by Mesoamerican cultures as a symbol of eternity and permanence. To the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, jade represented a passage to immortality, enabling a safe passage through the underworld into the afterlife. These cultures cherished jade for millenia, and adorned countless kings and nobles with jade ornamentation. Tragically, the Conquistadors’ view of jade craft as idolatry, along with their unquenchable lust for gold, caused the Maya jade quarries to be abandoned and forgotten for more than four centuries. In 1974, they were re-discovered by a determined pair of explorers, who located the in-situ quarry sites of the Maya ,and have since identified several never before seen types of jadeite.