Chinese Jades

This publication presents the Youngman Collection of Chinese jades within an art-historical and archaeological framework,

situating these objects in the broader development of Chinese material culture from antiquity to later imperial periods. Jade, valued in China for its aesthetic qualities, durability, and symbolic associations, occupies a central role in ritual practice, social identity, and artistic production.

Through detailed object studies and comparative analysis, the volume examines carving techniques, stylistic evolution, iconography, and the cultural meanings attributed to jade across different historical contexts. Particular attention is given to issues of provenance, collecting history, and the transformation of jade objects from ritual artefacts to works appreciated within modern museum and collecting environments. The publication contributes to ongoing scholarship on Chinese decorative arts, materiality, and cross-cultural collecting practices.