A new jade market is opening in Muse at the China border for the benefit of Myanmar sellers who do not want to go into China to trade. Sellers cite various difficulties in taking their business into China, such as cost of living and the likelihood authorities will side with locals in any dispute. Muse is adjacent to Ruili in China, where a lot of trade now takes place.
The project involves a cooperative effort between the Shan state government and a construction firm. In addition to the large marketplace there will be apartments, hotels and a bus terminal capable of handling a thousand vehicles. It is also quite possible that the annual Myanmar jade auctions will relocate to the new market.
Here is a related story from the Myanmar Times.
In other jade news, the noted financial publication Hong Kong Economic Journal has called for a boycott of Myanmar jade. Many shops in Hong Kong feature Myanmar jade, where the unsuspecting buyer may be offered a $9 object for $9,100.
The article criticizes the jade trade of Myanmar as painful and brutal. "The best jade mines in Myanmar are controlled by the elite class, and the miners are often drug addicts. Yaba, a cheap form of meth, whips up their systems to work long hours in harsh conditions. In shooting alleys, heroin numbs the pain in their bodies after extended shifts." The article says buyers of Myanmar jade are contributing to the desperation of laborers in that country.
Instability and corruption in the jade trade in Myanmar cause problems for dealers in Hong Kong and China, according to the article.
Here is a link to the article.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Jade in Arizona? Maybe So...
I recently saw a mint-green rough rock advertised as jade from Arizona. To my mind the sources of jade in the US are the Pacific northwest and Wyoming, possibly some areas adjacent Wyoming.
There was quite a discussion about this on the "Rock Tumbling Hobby" site, as someone had posted a find of black jade from Arizona. Well, I have found what could be termed black jade in Arkansas but a dealer told me it is jet. The consensus on the hobby site seemed to me that the material is something other than jade.
The fellow who found it had a web site but it has disappeared. He said in posts on the hobby site that he was having the material tested. I found nothing further about it.
In the discussion queue there is a quote from John Sinkakas: "At this time (1997) I can find no confirmation of either jadeite or nephrite in Arizona."
I would tend to take that as gospel, Sinkakas is the man when it comes to gemstones. Above is a photo posted on the site of material from the "black jade" discovery. The entire discussion may be found here (link).
There was quite a discussion about this on the "Rock Tumbling Hobby" site, as someone had posted a find of black jade from Arizona. Well, I have found what could be termed black jade in Arkansas but a dealer told me it is jet. The consensus on the hobby site seemed to me that the material is something other than jade.
The fellow who found it had a web site but it has disappeared. He said in posts on the hobby site that he was having the material tested. I found nothing further about it.
In the discussion queue there is a quote from John Sinkakas: "At this time (1997) I can find no confirmation of either jadeite or nephrite in Arizona."
I would tend to take that as gospel, Sinkakas is the man when it comes to gemstones. Above is a photo posted on the site of material from the "black jade" discovery. The entire discussion may be found here (link).
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Fake Jade: Three "Buyer Beware" Guides
These days it almost goes without saying that much of what is labeled jade of one sort or another is enhanced or fake. Quite often, poorer quality nephrite or jadeite is treated in order to make it more appealing. Another significant problem is that many materials labeled jade -- quite often with modifiers such as "Yellow Dragon" or "Mexican," just to mention two -- are not true nephrite or jadeite.
I have visited a great many sites offering clues to the identity of fake jades. Here are three sites that should provide a very good overview for the wary buyer.
The number and variety of these fakes may be daunting but, on the other hand, these guides may save you some future disappointment. For example, when I was about to purchase a piece labeled "yellow dragon jade," a bit of research revealed that this probably refers to steatite, not true jade.
Molly Kalafut did us a great favor some years ago by surveying the various materials often identified as jade on the eBay auction site. "African jade," "Alaska jade," "Australian jade," "Dushan jade," "Happy Camp jade," "Honan jade," "Mexican jade," "New jade," "Transvaal jade" and "Vesuvianite jade" may be familiar, and there are many others listed on this site: "Identifying Fake Jades"
R.V. Dietrich's site is rich in information, taking us first through various names given to jade from different locations, and then into "simulants." This is a more extensive list than that noted above and includes warnings about "greenstone" and "yu," two terms covering a variety of material often mistaken for jade. There is also mention of glass and plastic in the list to be found at this site: "The Jades"
Eric J. Hoffman offers a thoughtful essay proposing q estions that should be asked by the buyer of antique jades. Firstly he gets into the question of "What is jade?" and observes: "Without becoming a mineralogist, how can the collector tell jade from pseudojade? First, of course, is to see and handle as much true jade as possible. Jade, especially, is a tactile material."
Other considerations are covered such as "Stylistic Analysis" and "Provenance." The site, addressing "a growing number of collectors chasing a limited supply of older jades," thoughtful essay proposing q may be found here: "Old Chinese Jades: Real or Fake?"
I have visited a great many sites offering clues to the identity of fake jades. Here are three sites that should provide a very good overview for the wary buyer.
The number and variety of these fakes may be daunting but, on the other hand, these guides may save you some future disappointment. For example, when I was about to purchase a piece labeled "yellow dragon jade," a bit of research revealed that this probably refers to steatite, not true jade.
Molly Kalafut did us a great favor some years ago by surveying the various materials often identified as jade on the eBay auction site. "African jade," "Alaska jade," "Australian jade," "Dushan jade," "Happy Camp jade," "Honan jade," "Mexican jade," "New jade," "Transvaal jade" and "Vesuvianite jade" may be familiar, and there are many others listed on this site: "Identifying Fake Jades"
R.V. Dietrich's site is rich in information, taking us first through various names given to jade from different locations, and then into "simulants." This is a more extensive list than that noted above and includes warnings about "greenstone" and "yu," two terms covering a variety of material often mistaken for jade. There is also mention of glass and plastic in the list to be found at this site: "The Jades"
Eric J. Hoffman offers a thoughtful essay proposing q estions that should be asked by the buyer of antique jades. Firstly he gets into the question of "What is jade?" and observes: "Without becoming a mineralogist, how can the collector tell jade from pseudojade? First, of course, is to see and handle as much true jade as possible. Jade, especially, is a tactile material."
Other considerations are covered such as "Stylistic Analysis" and "Provenance." The site, addressing "a growing number of collectors chasing a limited supply of older jades," thoughtful essay proposing q may be found here: "Old Chinese Jades: Real or Fake?"
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