Customer Reviews

Jade: 5000 B.C. to 1912 A.D.: A Guide for Collectors (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I ordered this book hoping that it would attempt to provide a reference tool on authentication, dating and typology of jade for Western collectors. Such books exist in Chinese language, although they tend to be overly subjective, written by collectors, or narrowly academic, written by academics. There are also Chinese-language references for the general public that are simplistic and lacking in the most basic grounding in history and academic references.

This turns out to be a highly subjective book by an amateur Western collector with little or no knowledge of the extensive bibliography on jade in Western languages, let alone Chinese. I am tempted to throw this book away. Almost all of the jade illustrated is fake or very crude, or misattributed (Liangzhu culture to Shang, for example). Here and there an interesting piece sneaks in but this author would not be able to identify it or tell the reader what makes it interesting.

About the only redeeming feature of the book is an introduction in which Mr. Veleanu talks about his own life experience and how he came, quite late in life, to an interest in jade. I only hope that he applied more rigor to his studies of medicine than he does to his research on jade.

Edith Terry
Hong Kogn

As with all of Mr. Veleanu's books, "Jade: 5000 B.C. to 1912 A.D." is, quite frankly, a pile of rubbish. The author clearly knows nothing about jade, and most of the jade in his book is from his own collection of fake jade. What a waste of money! I definitely do not recommend any of his books- you will be sorry.


RECENT NEWS:

Veleanu, a seller of "archaic" jade on eBay and GoAntiques has been sued after selling thousands of dollars worth of jade to a woman who recently discovered them to be fake! Amazon should dispose of this ridiculous publication!

Mr Veleanu's book on Jade and, indeed, the author himself have come in for a good deal of criticism on the grounds that the book is not a learned treatise on jade and the author is of doubtful background and character. This may be true. I have no idea. But people need to turn the coin over and recognise that if the book is lacking in scholarly merit then it still may be used as a reference point as what not to buy when it comes to jade.

Any serious collector of jade knows that the price paid for pieces of jade that carry impeccable authentication do not sell for a few hundred dollars but go for many thousands.

I acknowledge Mr Veleanu's effort in putting the book together and showing us all what not to buy, if the learned critics are correct about the book and the author.

I found Veleanu's well organized, well written book to be an invaluable tool for identifying Chinese jades. Each period/dynasty has its own chapter with an abundance of photos. There are also chapters on ornamental jade, coinage and seals, Buddhist carvings, and funerary jade. "Part I: Overview" is a must read.

Fantastic book for viewing, study and research. We purchased one in October and second for a Christmas gift. Wonderful.

I just received as a gift a copy of this beautiful and informative book on jade. As a jade collector for many years, I was gratified to find similar pieces in the book to those I have. The author is very knowledgable and I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of jade carvings and particularly to those who own objects created from these beautiful and varied gemstones.

The book now enjoys a prized location on my livingroom coffee table.

I've been a collector of Chinese Jade for a number of years now. I was born in Hongkong in 1946 and have come across all sort of so called "antique jade". It all started in the late 60's when a friend of mine took me to a night market called "Jade Street" where they had all kind of jade laid on the road side for sale. I was thinking to myself how would I know if it's real or not so decided to read up on it.So between reading and actually handling it I got to know a bit more not only the Jade items but it's history. Got to know about the various Dynasties and it's various style and the more I read the more interesting it got. Recently I returned to Hong Kong (left HK for the States in 69)and met up with an old school friend of mine who is a dealer in old jades. In particular 6000 to 7000 years old jade, he even showed me a piece which he was wearing around his neck which he called "ET" and said it was over 5000 years old. When he told me I was surprised, I've never read or knew that it went back that far. So decided to check it out on the internet and came across Amazon who had a number of books on this subject and this one in particular that I was interested in and decided to get it. I found this book extremely informative and easy to read and opened up a whole new world of collecting jade, in fact so much so that I intend to return to Hong Kong and catch up with my friend and pick up some good pieces since I now know more or less what to look for. This is one book I would seriously suggest that any ardent collector of Jade should have in their library.

I found this book to be a comprehensive collection of images and information on jade. It was well organized and easy to read - I found Mr. Veleanu's writing style very comfortable yet knowledgeable! I know I will continue to reference it for many years to come.

Very nice book well ilustrated covering aspects of the jade stone through the History. I recommend it to those that are interested in this subject.