gems, jade, nephrite, jadeite, fei cui, China, Burma, Chinese jade carving, coral, agate, quartz, rock crystal, chalcedony, onyx, amethyst, turquoise

This catalogue documents the works selected for the 2017 China Jade Carving and Stone Carving “Tian Gong Award,” providing an extensive visual survey of contemporary Chinese lapidary art. Richly illustrated in color, it presents prize-winning and selected carvings in nephrite, Fei Cui, crystal, agate, turquoise, and numerous other gem and ornamental materials. The works encompass traditional subjects drawn from Chinese mythology, religion, landscape, flora and fauna alongside increasingly contemporary and experimental designs, demonstrating both continuity with established carving traditions and innovation in composition and technique. Individual pieces illustrate the carvers’ use of natural color, texture, skin, inclusions, and irregularities in the rough as integral elements of their designs. As an annual record of the Tian Gong competition, the volume documents important artists, materials, workmanship, and stylistic developments in Chinese jade and stone carving during 2017.