Hardstone carving is a common term applied in archeology and art history referring to the artistic sculpture of the predominant semi-precious stones, and gemstones such rock crystal, jade, agate, carnelian, serpentine and onyx and also a piece created out of the very rocks. Typically, the objects are trivial, and the category tends to intersect with both sculpture and jewelry. Hardstone carving is a longstanding significant and highly prized substance in goldsmithing since the prehistoric era of art, and till date, it accounts for the most massive percent of Chinese hardstone carvings.[1]
One of the reasons why the Chinese sculptures were valued and traded at a higher price is because they symbolized important life aspects in people's lives such as immortality, longevity, beauty and purity, religious significance and special powers. Types of carved objects comprise those having religious or ritual purposes, etched with gems like signet rings and other forms of handles, seal, vessels, decorative objects, and belt hooks.[2] This paper provides a detailed discussion on the history of hardstone carving in china, process of creation and meanings of various designs.
History of China’s Hardstone Carving
Hardstone carving is the longstanding artwork in China, backdating to the 5th millennium Before Christ (B.C). The evidence is recovered through the archeological discovery of earrings during Majiabang culture. Hardstone carving is often referred to as pietra dura, Italian term for implying usage of stones for inlay works.[3] The art of hardstone carving continued to be established throughout the subsequent ages from various ruling kingdoms. Enhanced decorative and animal designs were developed during the dynasty of Han between 25 and 220 A.D while crystal pendants and rings and other jewelry were skillfully created during Zhou’s reign between 771 and 256 B.C. During Shang royalty, new objects were developed such as figurative birds’ sculptures, ceremonial weapons and jewelry.[4] Other carvers borrowed skills from the paintings such sacrificial vessels for instance, statues with bull’s head appearance during Tang dynasty between 618-907.In comparison to jade, hardstone utilization appeared to diminish till the Qing royalty (1644–1911) that the benefit from the imperial ruling and plentiful supply of skilled craftsmanship, raw materials which spurred artwork. The jade stone was found amazing for the Manchu court.
Through the 18th century, great spread of success and prosperous military campaigns ensured political stability. Also, securing of trade roads allowed smooth importation of gemstones across the sea and silk roads and beyond Europe. The king’s imperial jade inventory records acquisition of many semi-precious stones on a monthly basis. The lapidary craft that had been interrupted by regime changes was also recovered — workshops in Yangzhou and Suzhou cities which where hardstone carving first kicked off thrived and revived their skills to greater heights. The king’s support also kept artwork vibrant. [5] During the dynasties of emperors, Qianlong and Yongzheng led to the establishment of workshops which employed many more master carvers through the setting of quality standards and provision of detailed instructions on the subject matter.
Process of Creating carvings
Many hardstones carvings including quarts varieties and jade contain a crystalline configuration which does not permit detailed carving using edged accompanied by poor finish and high wastage. Jade refers to an artificial stone applied primarily in a broad range of jewelry artwork, figurative curving and other categories of sculptures in relief and statue form. The jade workshops were carved with hardstones at the king’s court, and their working methods were practically the same.[6]
The treasure of jade was hidden in the glittering, shady and color translucency nature of the stones but was also enhance through several artificial ways such as using dyes, sugar, and heat. Through the reign of Hongshan, Liangzhu and Majiabang (4700-2900 BCE), many jade carvings were created from either jadeite or nephrite minerals, but later in the 18th century, the jade objects were made from nephrite. Jadeite takes the hardness similar to quartz whereas, nephrite is a bit softer. Both materials have the hardness of steel and therefore cannot be carved or cut using metal tools.[7]
The conventional way of slicing the hard stone was wearing it away using a soft tool and carborundum sand. Because of the rarity of jade and technicalities encountered while manufacturing, it's making, and usage was limited only to the noblemen, tribal leaders and emperors to make ritual vessels, totemic objects depicting power and ceremonial utensils.
Although the tools used for carving were considerably advanced with time, the method or rather the technique of carving first established during the Neolithic era remained almost the same. The critical working principle entailed gradual wearing away of the defective stone parts. Isolating gem from crusty stones, shape it into the required form and polishing the carving into a lustrous finish. The craftsmen attained the carve edges by carefully grinding the stone surfaces using abrasives especially corundum or quartz of varying coarseness. The tools used were specialized to perform a very specific work. A rotating steel disk was the most important tool used both for cutting huge pieces and etching edges of the stone that operated through foot pedaling.[8]
Meanings Behind Popular Designs
Many subjects for hardstone carvings were vegetables and fruits conveying wishes for longevity, prosperity, the perpetuation of one’s family lineage, good fortune or academic achievement. Also, small figurative of statues of birds carved round symbolized individual servants serving the deceased.[9] The sculptures of people bowing while folding their hands and closing their palms were mostly used in religious places to as a sign of humility, respect and holiness with which the place is meant for worshiping.
Another theme is of animal and human figures, which are also pictorial symbols representing propitious meaning. A jadeite sculpture of two small boys riding on an elephant depicts good fortune or blessings. Another subject of a mother holding a daylily and standing next to a small boy symbolizes the desire for more children since it is believed to help women bear sons and the loving nature of a mother. Also, jade was a symbol of status, power, and virtue.
A unique character and appearance of the carving are dependent on the creativity and smartness of the artist in the use of different materials. Most hardstones including lazuli lapis, crystal rock, chalcedony, and agate have variations in color with irregularly arranged spots, lesser or greater opacity, blotches, layers of color variations which might are seen as an infinite possibility in master artisans. With intimate and exceptional knowledge and artistic sensibility, one can envision the completed work in the ugly stone. He or she is capable of reaching an ultimate effect in the course of his or her work through modifications on the design by turning potential flaws into an attractive highlight. A marvelous example is that of a small sculpture of candied peanuts and jujube dates created from chalcedony. The skillful artisan has modified the sculpture design to reflect the initial colors and shape of the stone. The glazed fruit surface is demonstrated surface by wearing away thick crust of the stone to expose the brown translucent color. The rock’s yellow coating is also removed revealing the peanut-like rough shell.[10]
Variations in Style Among Other Producing Countries
From early westernization, there begun a carving of small statues and vessels in ancient Rome and Greece and Sassanian Persia. However, it is not an important the ancient art of Egypt compared to jewelry. The signet ring of Tutankhamun is well known to be a ‘unique object’ of Egyptian jade. Hardstone carving refers to figures and vessels than little-sculpted stones for seal rings that were the primary artistic manifestation of hardstone carving in Hellenistic and Greek classical periods and are considered singly. During the Hellenistic period, semi-precious stones started to appear and mostly carved, for instance, the cup of Ptolemies and Farnese. By the end of middle age period, a wide range of objects and stones are seen being used for both for secular and religious purposes.[11]
In the 19th century, hardstone workshop was the topping workshop in Europe and established the pietra dura style which entails the use of multi-colored inlays in colored gemstones and marbles. They also made small sculptures and vessels from a piece of stone mounted with gilt which was also applied in Milanese workshops. In Guatemala, they have a broad range of jadeite jade colors. They are moon-shaped and in many colors, each symbolizing different life aspects.[12]
Conclusion
To sum up, hardstone carving is the longstanding artwork in China, backdating to the 5th millennium Before Christ (B.C). It was until the dynasty of Qing that there was keen imperial benefaction, plentiful supply of skilled craftsmanship, raw materials which allowed the artwork to flourish. The huge success and prosperous military campaigns ensured political stability. Also, securing of trade roads allowed smooth importation of gemstones across the sea and silk roads and beyond Europe. Exhibition of a collection of about 75 exquisite carvings made from Met collection represents amazing art of Chinese during Qing dynasty (1644–1911) featuring jade the most esteemed gem as well as coral, amber, machine, and agate. The hardstone curving is marvelous with a reflection of creativity and artful nature of humanity and the beauty that lies within the stone. The carves made out of it amazingly add meaning to one’s life.
Bibliography
“About Jade - Casa Del Jade.” Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.lacasadeljade.com/en/about-jade/.
“Archaic Chinese Jade Carvings, from Bi to Gui to Huang | Christie’s.” Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.christies.com/features/Archaic-jade-A-history-7014-1.aspx.
“Chinese Hardstone Carvings | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hard/hd_hard.htm.
“Chinese Jade Meaning: A History of Beauty ~ MegaMinistore.” Accessed November 27, 2018. http://www.megaministore.com/jade-gemstone/chinese-jade-meaning.
“Meaning of Jade in Chinese Culture: Power, Status & Virtue | Christie’s.” Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.christies.com/jade/jade/the-stone-of-heaven/.
“The History of Jade: The Emperor’s Stone (Infographic).” Accessed November 27, 2018. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-history-of-jade-the-emperors-stone/.
[1]
“Chinese Hardstone Carvings | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History,” accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hard/hd_hard.htm.
[2]
“Archaic Chinese Jade Carvings, from Bi to Gui to Huang | Christie’s,” accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.christies.com/features/Archaic-jade-A-history-7014-1.aspx.
[3]
“Chinese Jade Meaning: A History of Beauty ~ MegaMinistore,” accessed November 27, 2018, http://www.megaministore.com/jade-gemstone/chinese-jade-meaning.
[4]
“Chinese Hardstone Carvings | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.”
[5]
“The History of Jade: The Emperor’s Stone (Infographic),” accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-history-of-jade-the-emperors-stone/.
[6]
“Meaning of Jade in Chinese Culture: Power, Status & Virtue | Christie’s,” accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.christies.com/jade/jade/the-stone-of-heaven/.
[7]
“Chinese Jade Meaning: A History of Beauty ~ MegaMinistore.”
[8]
“About Jade - Casa Del Jade,” accessed November 27, 2018, https://www.lacasadeljade.com/en/about-jade/.
[9]
“The History of Jade: The Emperor’s Stone (Infographic).”
[10]
“Chinese Hardstone Carvings | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.”
[11]
“The History of Jade: The Emperor’s Stone (Infographic).”
[12]
“Archaic Chinese Jade Carvings, from Bi to Gui to Huang | Christie’s.”
