Bowl, 17th century, 3 1/8 x 9 1/2 in. ( x cm), Light brown nephrite intentionally burned darker, China, 17th century, This bowl is an excellent example of intentional color alteration practiced during the late Ming dynasty. Toward the end of the sixteenth century, jade began to be quarried in the K'un-lun mountains near Khotan. This 'mountain jade' was considered inferior in color to other types, so a practice developed of staining certain areas of the finished carving to increase its value. Iron-rich compounds were apparently used to create various shades of brown and black.

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