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NOW FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE…
TOURIST SOUVENIR
REAL PHOTO POST CARD SET
IN PROTECTIVE COVER ENVELOPE
(10) TEN CARDS TOTAL
EACH DEPICTS A DIFFERENT PIECE OF
JADE ART
CARVED SCULPTURES
LIKELY IN A NATIONAL MUSEUM.
THE ONLY ENGLISH IS SOME NUMBERS
AND THE DATE 1978
COVER READS "SHANGHAI YU DIAOXIOJI"
THE COVER SHOWS SOME STORAGE WEAR AND THE CARDS
IN VERY GOOD CONDITION
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FYI
Jade is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:
Nephrite consists of a microcrystaline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content the greener the colour.
Jadeite is a sodium- and aluminium-rich pyroxene. The gem form of the mineral is a microcrystaline interlocking crystal matrix.
Etymology
The English word jade (alternative spellings "jaid", "jadeite") is derived (via French l'ejade and Latin ilia) from the Spanish term piedra de ijada (first recorded in 1565) or "loin stone", from its reputed efficacy in curing ailments of the loins and kidneys. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish piedra de ijada.
Overview
Nephrite versus jadeiteNephrite and jadeite were used from prehistoric periods for hardstone carving. Jadeite has about the same hardness as quartz, while nephrite is somewhat softer. Both nephrite and jadeite are tough, but nephrite is tougher than jadeite. It was not until the 19th century that a French mineralogist determined that "jade" was in fact two different materials. The trade name jadite (not to be confused with jadeite) is sometimes used for translucent or opaque green glass.
Among the earliest known jade artifacts excavated from prehistoric sites are simple ornaments with bead, button, and tubular shapes. Additionally, jade was used for axe heads, knives, and other weapons, which can be delicately shaped. As metal-working technologies became available, the beauty of jade made it valuable for ornaments and decorative objects. Jadeite measures between 6.5 and 7.0 Mohs hardness, and Nephrite between 5.5 and 6.0, so it can be worked with quartz or garnet sand, and polished with bamboo or even ground jade.
Unusual varietiesNephrite can be found in a creamy white form (known in China as "mutton fat" jade) as well as in a variety of green colours, whereas jadeite shows more colour variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colours. Of the two, jadeite is rarer, documented in fewer than 12 places worldwide. Translucent emerald-green jadeite is the most prized variety, both today and historically. As "quetzal" jade, bright green jadeite from Guatemala was treasured by Mesoamerican cultures, and as "kingfisher" jade, vivid green rocks from Burma became the preferred stone of post-1800 Chinese imperial scholars and rulers. Burma (Myanmar) and Guatemala are the principal sources of modern gem jadeite, and Canada of modern lapidary nephrite. Nephrite jade was used mostly in pre-1800 China as well as in New Zealand, the Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coasts of North America, Neolithic Europe, and south-east Asia. In addition to Mesoamerica, jadeite was used by Neolithic Japanese and European cultures.
The term faux jade is a misnomer, at best. A stone can be readily identified as either a jadeite or nephrite gemstone by a specialized jade dealer. As most jewelers have little or sparse knowledge about jade, jade should only be purchased from vendors who specialize in jade. Unlike the diamond industry, which has a central recognized authority that controls price and availablity, known as DeBeers, there is no such recognized authority for other gemstones. As a result, stones represented as jade, even in high end jewelry stores, may often reflect poor quality or color treatment to enhance appearance, and are priced at the same level as other high-end jewlery, such as diamonds and gold, not in any way commensurate with the quality of the jade stone being represented. As a result, many minerals are sold as jade. Some of these are: serpentine (also bowenite), carnelian, aventurine quartz, glass, grossularite, Vesuvianite, soapstone (and other steatites such as shoushan stone) and recently, Australian chrysoprase. "Suzhou jade," "Styrian jade," "Olive jade", and "New jade" are all really serpentine; "Transvaal jade" or "African jade" is grossularite; "Peace jade" is a mixture of serpentine, stichtite, and quartz; "Mountain jade" is dyed dolomite marble.
Unlike the typical high end jeweler, specialized jade dealers can provide the scientific name of specific "jade" stones upon request, although the high-end jewelers' clerks who sell faux jades may be unaware that multiple types of stone are sold under that name.
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