The Study Of Modern Nephrite Jade Carving Technology Based On Gemological And Mineralogical Features

Nephrite has been the mainstream material for jade carving since ancient times.In recent years,the rapid development of carving tools has led to many changes of carving technology,but the contemporary comprehensive academic study of nephrite carving technology seldom digs deeper into it.This paper,starting from an interdisciplinary perspective,such as the gemology,mineralogy,technology,statistics,art and anthropology,aims to study the material and modern carving technology of nephrite across the board,including its gemological and mineralogical features and their effects on jade design and carving,modern processing methods and craft features,characteristics and styles of modern carvings,and technology appraising.The gemological and mineralogical characteristics of nephrite exert great influence on its carving,which means that its color,luster,transparency,hardness,texture,impurity minerals and other features should be wisely used in the carving process.The laboratory tests and carving practice show that the carving hardness of nephrite is not directly related to its occurrence or color but its texture;the carving hand feeling is affected by its occurrence: the shaping ability is weak when the material is dry and strong when it is moist.The producing area of nephrite can also affect its carving hardness and hand feeling.Numerous investigations show that manual carving,computer numerical control(CNC)engraving,and 3D replicate engraving are the three mainstream ways for jade carving in China now.Thanks to the innovations of electronic tools in modern jade carving,jade can be carved in a more efficient and precise way.However,the technology modern nephrite carving resorts to is almost the continuity of ancient craftsmanship,of which the most frequently applied are Qiaose and openwork carving.Qiaose can be divided into such four basic types as the Qiaose of crust,body,inclusion and surrounding rock according to the placement of the colors on the nephrite.In contemporary jade carving,nephrite is still the most widely used material in all kinds of crafts due to its good texture.The statistical analysis of 2,521 nephrite works out of 5,368 modern jade carvings reveals that themes of contemporary nephrite works are still mainly based on Chinese tradition,i.e.myths,fables,poems,historical or classic allusions,etc.,but there still emerge a few innovative works.In terms of the jade carving itself,the functions of jade artworks are fewer than that in ancient times,and most pieces are small and medium and display more technological sense.From the perspective of consumers,nephrite artworks are now accessible to jade lovers and mass consumers,although it was exclusive to royal nobles in ancient times.At present,the development of artificial intelligence and industrial automation will continue to boost the batch and large-scale production of China's jade carvings.This trend will further advance the creative design and cultural value of jade carving works.Given the factors that influence the value of nephrite carvings,its technology appraising can be made in terms of the material use,creative design and carving technology.