Hall of Jades: Photo Gallery

For a preview of The Field Museum’s extraordinary jade collection, look to the image gallery below.

Here you will glimpse the story of Chinese jade in pictures, from prehistoric burials to the early twentieth century.

Neolithic China
In China’s ancient societies (circa 7000–1900 B.C.), jade had value both in life and in death. Jade was used in burial rituals, perhaps to protect the body or spirit of the dead.

Bronze Age China
Jade was a potent symbol of power during China’s Bronze Age (circa 1900–221 B.C.), as leaders battled and dynasties grew.

Rise of the Emperors
In the early days of the Chinese empire (475 B.C.–A.D. 220), jade was the ultimate status symbol, worn by emperors and displayed by the wealthy.

Dynasties and Deities
Jades reflected a society’s transformation as Chinese culture evolved over the centuries (A.D. 221–1644). Artisans created jade objects that reflected new belief systems while referring to the past.

Golden Age of Chinese Jade
Jade artistry flourished within the prosperity of the eighteenth century, the middle Qing ("ching") Dynasty (1644–1911). Exquisite jades reveal a taste for luxury and fine workmanship.

Modern China
New methods and materials influenced jade working in the twentieth century. Artisans looked to the past for inspiration while taking technique to a new level with new technologies.

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