Which statement is correct: “Good jade needs no carving” or “Jade cannot be made into a useful object without carving”?

There are two sayings in the jade carving world: "Good jade does not need to be carved" and "Jade cannot be made into a useful object without being carved"! The two seem to contradict each other, which one is right and which one is wrong?

In the international auction market, jade items that repeatedly set new sky-high prices are mostly plain. Why are they so expensive?

The mystery of the plain surface The "plain surface" of jade is like a beautiful woman without makeup. Plain jade that dares to show its true face will surely withstand scrutiny.

Usually, plain jade has higher requirements on jade quality and cannot have cracks and flaws, otherwise these defects will be easily discovered.

Jadeite round bead necklace

The quality of plain jadeite depends on the following points:

1. Outline shape

The jadeite is required to have smooth curved surfaces, clear outlines and coordinated layout.

Jade earrings

2

Proportion

This refers to the length-to-width ratio of jadeite. If the ratio is not harmonious, it will directly affect the appearance. However, since high-end jade raw materials are rare, many jade carvers will "work according to the material".

Jade Bean Pendant

3

symmetry

Jade must be symmetrical up and down, left and right, and not skewed.

Plain Jade Bracelet

4

size

The size of jade includes weight, volume and thickness. These three factors are directly proportional to the price of jadeite. The larger the volume, the higher the value of jadeite. The thickness of jadeite is determined by the color and water head of the jadeite raw material.

5

polishing

The better the texture of the jade, the more it will "shine" and "lustrous" after polishing, and the better its glossiness will be.

Therefore, the top-grade jadeite commonly seen in the international auction market is mainly plain-surfaced jadeite such as ring faces, bracelets, and necklaces. At the same time, some Guanyin and Maitreya jadeite, which have no additional carvings, can also be regarded as a type of plain jadeite.

Carved Jade

Carved jadeite highlights the three-dimensional effect of jadeite through the reflection and refraction of light, while impurities and other defects may exist in the thinned areas. Common leaf-shaped flower pieces with intricate veins are mostly used to cover cracks and remove superficial fissures.

"No strands, no flowers" is also a vivid summary of the technique of carving to cover up flaws.

Carved Jade Bracelet

Facing the saying “good jade should not be carved”, Master Wang Chaoyang believes that only after being meticulously carved by skilled craftsmen can jade carry the soul of art and culture. In other words, the true value of jadeite can only be reflected after adding artistic added value to the original value of jade.

Master Wang Junyi said: This is because most people nowadays don’t know how to carve, and it is better not to carve after carving. This is a common phenomenon in the jade industry today. For ordinary jade materials, it is misleading not to carve good jade."

Having been engaged in the jade carving industry for more than ten years, jade carving masters generally feel that this industry requires applying art in accordance with the material, achieving harmony between man and nature, and choosing different carving methods based on different materials to express the potential cultural connotations of jade.

However, many jade carvers believe that "as the materials become more expensive, fewer people carve them randomly. No one paid attention to design and art before, but now more and more people are paying attention to this and believe that good jade materials need good jade carvers to carve them."

Not all plain jade can be sold at sky-high prices. Plain jade of average quality will also be priced at an average level. Likewise, not all carved jade is worthless. Carving requires that “the pattern must have meaning, and the meaning must be auspicious.” The carving technique gives the jade material cultural connotations that plain jade does not have.

Within a limited budget, the decision of whether to focus on material quality or craftsmanship is in your hands.

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