| Original Message: Re: More jade - fakes, reproductions, imitations 2 |
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The second pair of pictures raises a slightly different question. Both pieces were made in the Han dynasty. They are carvings of pigs, intended to be placed in the fist of a relative who was being buried, a symbol of plenty for the deceased's existence in the afterlife. They're both about 10 cms in length. The first is jade, but the second is made of some soft stone (calcite possibly). When it was first carved it probably looked quite similar to the jade pig, but 2,000 years in the ground have left it looking a bit worn and shabby? Now, the question is: is the calcite pig a fake? Was it intended to deceive, either the other mourners, or even the dead ancestor? Or was it simply a replacement that was still piously given? (Interestingly - I've never seen it mentioned - almost all these pigs have tiny suspension holes in the tail - I've no idea why.) Will All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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