The whole process of jade from raw stone to carving

The ancients said, "If jade is not polished and carved, it will not become an exquisite artifact." This means that if jade is not polished and carved, it will not become an exquisite artifact. The creation of a good jade carving work is based on the jade carver's pursuit of excellence in art and his persistence in hard study. I heard from some friends that they have seen jade carvings of many styles, but they never knew how they were made? So this article will give you a brief understanding of the production process of jade from raw stone to finished product.

1. Material selection:

“A good cook cannot cook without rice.” Even the most experienced jade carver cannot carve exquisite jade articles without a good raw stone. Therefore, material selection is an important starting point, laying a solid foundation for later jade carving. Jade carvers will select the raw stones based on their size, shape and value to achieve the highest economic benefit from the raw materials. If the materials are not selected properly, it will waste raw materials and cause economic losses.

2. Cutting:

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Stone cutting is the first step in processing raw stone, and it is a great test of the jade carver’s stone cutting skills. The master needs to plan the cutting area and thickness based on the surface characteristics of the jade, such as the direction of the emerald color, the development of cracks, the colors of jadeite and purple, the distribution of black, the analysis and estimation of the changes in the water quality inside and outside, and the shape of the original stone, and cut the original stone into suitable materials.

3. Design:

The design of jade is different from general product design. It requires jade carvers to carefully outline the line draft according to the contours of the jade material, highlight the base and color of the jade with sufficient water content, cover up some flaws on the material (grains, cracks, cotton, etc.), and create artistic themes on the line draft. Finally, use a pencil to copy it onto the jade material to make the final preparation for carving.

4. Carving:

The success or failure of carving depends not only on the knife, but also on the experience and skills of the jade carver. The craftsman needs to use his personal skills, careful thinking and deft hands to make the carved patterns appear lifelike before people. In addition, the surface of the pattern should be constantly rinsed with water during carving. The purpose is to wash away the powder, while at the same time lowering the temperature and observing the quality of the product and the fineness and accuracy of the lines.

5. Polishing:

As the saying goes, "30% carving, 70% polishing." The quality of jade polishing is crucial. The industry is divided into machine polishing and manual polishing. Mechanical polishing is more suitable for common jade. Artworks like this that are made by jade carvers with constant pursuit of perfection of course require manual polishing. Through certain technological operations, traces of jade processing are removed, so that the surface of the jade can achieve its proper gloss and smoothness.

Comparison before and after polishing

Born as stone, created by craftsmanship, all depends on the wisdom of the craftsman. The exquisite carving craftsmanship not only makes the jade even more beautiful, but also elevates its value to a cultural value. Therefore, if you want to understand a piece of jade carving, you need to savor its connotation carefully on the basis of traditional Chinese culture, so that you can truly feel its subtle charm, gentleness and mystery.

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