In ancient China jade beads used for jewels, statues, weapons, bowls, seals, writing tablets, and even musical instruments. It was through jade that one communicated with the divine. A white jade bead carved with a serpent pattern has been found that dates back to the Shang Dynasty, 13th --11th century B.C. In the 2nd century B.C. Chinese jade traveled as far west as Rome in the caravans that traveled the Chinese silk routes.
During the Manchurian rule (1644-1912) beaded necklaces called “Mandarin chains” or “court beads” were worn by the Manchurian emperor and his court attendants. These were made of precious, semiprecious, and/or glass beads and were worn to indicate status. Complicated rules defined who was entitled to wear what sort of bead, with nobles and their wives who belonged to lower ranks often assigned glass beads.
One very beautiful Mandarin chain, beaded on a silk cord, consists of red Peking glass beads with green jade spacer beads and tourmaline dewdrop pendants.
Jade is fairly hard stone—6 ½ - 7 on Mohs’ scale—but there’s disagreement over whether it can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. We recommend that you clean jade with a damp, soft cloth. |