The Immortal Stone
Chinese Jades from the Neolithic Period to the Twentieth Century
James C.S. Lin
ISBN: 978 1 85759 581 9
Size: 250 x 210 mm / 8.3 x 9.8 in.
Binding: Hardback
Pages: 160
In association with: Fitzwilliam Museum
Date published: February, 2009
UK £29.95 /US $60
Highlights
- Over 100 jades from the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum, plus comparative pieces from museums in China and Taiwan
Description
The Immortal Stone draws on the extraordinarily rich collection of Chinese jades in The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The most exceptional of these include objects from the Qing imperial court, such as animal sculptures and desk items of remarkable craftsmanship and inventiveness. The use of jade declined after the collapse of the Han empire, and it was not until the Ming and Qing periods that jades began to circulate among affluent members of Chinese society. This fluctuation in the use of jade is reflected in the Museum’s collection of over 200 jades and other hardstones; over 100 important pieces are fully illustrated in this beautiful catalogue. James C. S. Lin discusses the value and significance of jade in Chinese society; its use in burial rituals and daily life; the imperial collection from the Qing dynasty; and the present-day market for jade.
Author information
James C. S. Lin is the Assistant Keeper of Applied Art at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
