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- A cknowledgements
There are thousands of ancient Chinese jade objects in public and private collec�tions throughout the world, and they have long attracted attention not only for their intrinsic beauty, but also for the information they shed on the history of ancient Chinese civilization. Only since 1949, however, have there been numerous sys�tematic archaeological excavations which have given important contextual sub�stance to the study of jades. But despite this, the study of Chinese jade is still far from complete.
The study of jade is one of the most difficult tasks in Chinese art. Jade, like paint�ing, ceramics and bronze objects in China, has undergone a large number of forgeries. Good copies of jade with simulated signs of age are not easily detected. Therefore, the dating of Chinese jade in private collections can be somewhat tricky in comparison with the carefully documented excavations of jades in China and with well-researched museum collections drawing from such formal docu�mentation.
Two major private collections of Chinese jade, as well as other collections in�cluding that of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria are included in this exhibit, which was made possible by a generous donation from Hongkong Bank of Canada. One of the major private collectors, Mr. Brian S. McElney, is a noted expert on Chi�nese jade and has had several of his jade carvings exhibited and published in James Watt�s Chinese Jades from Han to Ch�ing, Ip Yee�s Chinese Jade Car�ving, and the Hong Kong Fair�s Fine Arts and Antiques. A large number of jade pieces from the other private collection, Unique Jade of the Ancient Chinese: The Dyer Ancestral Collection, have been exhibited in the National History Museum in Taiwan, and a few have been published in Na Chih-liang�s Chinese Art Treasures: No. 2, Jade Objects. We would like to express our deepest apprecia�tion to Hongkong Bank of Canada, Mr. McElney, Mr. Dyer, and other private col�lectors, for making this exhibition and publication possible.
The assistance of the following staff members has been vital to the success of the Exhibition: Amy Algard, Janette Barr, Ann Kent, Antoinette Church, Brian Patten, Morris Redecopp, Chris Russell and Gloria Collins. A special thanks must go to Trevor Mills for the difficult task of photographing these objects.
We hope this catalogue initiates much discussion in the field of jade and we look forward to the opportunity to present further scholarship.
Barry Till and Paula Swart January 1986
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