Chinese jade (Room 33b)

The Selwyn and Ellie Alleyne Gallery

About 5000 BC – present

In China, jade has been a material of the highest value since ancient times. The objects on display in Room 33b illustrate the history of the exotic stone, prized for its beauty and magical properties. Translucent yet tough, jade was worked into ornaments, ceremonial weapons and ritual objects by Chinese craftspeople.

Most of the jades on show in Room 33b are on loan from the collection of Sir Joseph Hotung and demonstrate many different types of workmanship. They range from long, smooth Neolithic blades to later plaques, ornaments, dragons, human sculptures and intricate eighteenth century pendants.

Image captions (clockwise from top left):

Jade brush pot 18th century AD

Jade figure of a crouching animal 206 BC-AD 220

Jade ornament for the top of an axe shaft 2500 BC

Jade pendants in the form of dragons 4th century BC