From around 3000 to 1900BC, the late Neolithic period was a time of transition. In Mesopotamia, Egypt, and all around the Mediterranean basin, better living standards saw the rise of new cultures. In China Far East, along the Yellow River, settlements started to flourish and create their own unique identity. Jade was a precious and extremely difficult to carve mineral, mainly dedicated to the service of rituals or religious ceremonies. However, for a long time, the Shang dynasty jade design was regarded as a mere reproduction of the widely available bronzes the Shang were known for. In this book, the author revisits pre-conceived historical knowledge and, based on the research of well-respected scholar Hayashi Minao and expert historians Deng Shuping and Cai Qingliang, proposes that many of the jades pieces exhibited today in museums and private collections may have come from distinct earlier cultures and that bronze design may have been influenced by these devotional objects, not the reverse. Part one of this book, Jade from the early and middle Shang, presents the historical context in which cultures such as the Erlitou and the Erligang developed their unique style before being assimilated into the later Shang Dynasty. Part two, Jade from the late Shang, focuses on specific examples of ceremonial, weapons, and decorative jade to prove further that these pieces may actually have been anterior to the predominantly bronze ear and, by doing so, bring to light the exceptional craftsmanship of much older cultures. Eighty-four illustrations and photographs of unique jade artworks open a unique window of appreciation for these late neolithic times' sophisticated and little-known cultures.

From personal ornamentation to funerary practice, from palace decoration to private devotion, jade has played a major role in Chinese social, cultural, and political life for millennia. Exploring the history of this revered stone through the esteemed Grenville L. Winthrop Collection at the Harvard Art Museums--which includes some of the finest examples of ancient and archaizing jades outside China--this volume explains how and why jade developed its special significance. In-depth entries on over one hundred objects present recent archaeological discoveries and new information garnered from conservation analysis, while Jenny So's broad and engaging narrative not only elucidates the layered meanings of the objects and their iconography but also delves into the unique qualities of the material and the craftsmanship involved in quarrying and working jade. Distributed for the Harvard Art Museums

From around 3000 to 1900BC, the late Neolithic period was a time of transition. In Mesopotamia, Egypt, and all around the Mediterranean basin, better living standards saw the rise of new cultures. In China Far East, along the Yellow River, settlements started to flourish and create their own unique identity. Jade was a precious and extremely difficult to carve mineral, mainly dedicated to the service of rituals or religious ceremonies. However, for a long time, the Shang dynasty jade design was regarded as a mere reproduction of the widely available bronzes the Shang were known for. In this book, the author revisits pre-conceived historical knowledge and, based on the research of well-respected scholar Hayashi Minao and expert historians Deng Shuping and Cai Qingliang, proposes that many of the jades pieces exhibited today in museums and private collections may have come from distinct earlier cultures and that bronze design may have been influenced by these devotional objects, not the reverse. Part one of this book, Jade from the early and middle Shang, presents the historical context in which cultures such as the Erlitou and the Erligang developed their unique style before being assimilated into the later Shang Dynasty. Part two, Jade from the late Shang, focuses on specific examples of ceremonial, weapons, and decorative jade to prove further that these pieces may actually have been anterior to the predominantly bronze ear and, by doing so, bring to light the exceptional craftsmanship of much older cultures. Eighty-four illustrations and photographs of unique jade artworks open a unique window of appreciation for these Shang Dynasty's sophisticated and little-known cultures.

Examines the application of scientific methods to the study and conservation of art and cultural properties. This work addresses scientific topics of broad interest, cutting across the boundaries of traditional disciplines and attracting up to 250 leadingresearchers in the field.