Chinese Jade Through the Ages

S ince Neolithic times, jade has been prized in China as a precious and durable stone, and has been utilized for ritual, ornamental and functional purposes. An encyclopedic selection of Chinese jade carvings spanning 4,000 years, gifted by philanthropists and renowned Asian art collectors Florence and Herbert Irving to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflects developments in jade carving from the Neolithic period up to the 20^th century. Click on the timeline below to discover more.