The Epoch Times: Chinese jades are such a broad genre. How should a collector approach building a collection?
Isadore Chait : Jades are an extremely broad genre. First of all there is the difference between jadeite and nephrite. Then there are the issues of age because jades were produced during Neolithic times, during ancient Bronze Age times, during all the various dynasties, through the Republic of China and are still being produced.
A new collector should first examine the purpose of the collection. If the purpose is to buy lovely things to decorate one’s home then age is hardly a factor but rather elaborateness of carving and color would be most important. Size could also be an issue in that some collectors want very large pieces to put out and around their home. Others want cabinet-sized pieces to fill cases with colorful and intricate carvings.
Affordability is also an important issue. If one is looking for Imperial-type jade that graces the palace or that is on display in major museums, prices start at tens of thousands, rapidly go up into the hundreds of thousands, and sometimes even into the millions. If the point is decoration, prices start in the low thousands and rarely go above the tens of thousands.
[Click here to read a Q&A from Auction and Antique Expert Lark Mason]
Epoch Times : What is your advice to a new collector of jade?
Mr. Chait: Its very easy for a novice collector to buy things he thinks are jade and have them not be or to buy things that he thinks are old and have them be new. There are only two solutions to this problem. The first is for the novice collector to study before buying and become his own councilor. The second would be to find reputable dealers and auction companies who stand behind their merchandise and guarantee what they say.
Epoch Times : What is the most common pitfall in jade collecting?
Mr. Chait: The most common pitfalls are buying pseudo jades as jade. These could be various minerals such as serpentine, agate, feldspar, soapstone, etcetera. Another very common pitfall has to do with the cleverness with which jadeite can be dyed to be briliant green and appear very valuable. This is done through impregnation with polymer resins, which can only be detected by a jade laboratory.
Epoch Times : In your opinion, what is the most gratifying thing about jade?
Mr. Chait: The most gratifying thing about jade is that the carver, as a true artist, whether in modern times or in antiquity, can look at a piece of rough jade material and see within it the object he wishes to create. Many jade carvers have said that the carving of beautiful jades is actually quite easy and that the piece is always within the stone. One just has to remove the excess.
Epoch Times : How does I.M. Chait Gallery help collectors achieve their goals?
Mr. Chait: We recommend to people that they spend at least two or three auctions just looking and not bidding, preferably looking in person but they could also look online. If possible they should attend the auction, look at all the items and then watch what they sell for to get a feeling for the market.
They should also have a catalogue in hand because I personally write each description and identification as to material and age so if we have called it a jade, they can be certain it is. If we have not called it jade, they can be certain that it is not. With this kind of viewing and with stable accurate information it makes the learning curve go much faster. Also buyers can be certain that what they are getting is as described with absolute money back guarantees. We are one of the few companies that do this.
For more information see Isadore Chait’s website at www.chait.com.
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