Jade

Keverne, Roger. Jade. New York, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991. First edition. Folio (9¾” x 13¼”), 376 pp. Dust jacket in mylar. Mylar has some shelfwear, otherwise fine book in fine dustjacket.

This anthology of essays by leading scholars offers a global survey of jade use. A gemologist first covers the mineralogy of jade, followed by a detailed exploration of its use in China from prehistory to the present, which makes up half the book. Shorter essays then examine jade in Japan, the South Pacific, Europe, Burma, India, and the Americas. Stunning photographs throughout highlight jade’s visual appeal. While the book’s broad scope makes it a valuable resource, the varying approaches of the contributors result in a lack of overall cohesion. Fine in dust jacket in fine dust jacket. Hardcover. (54597) $75