Jade Carvings
The gem material jade (jadeite and nephrite) is tough, durable, stable, and hard. Jade can be fashioned into objects with intricate detail and brought to a high polish. The jadeite ewer, pictured above, was created in the early 20th century using rotary tools. The skill of the Chinese carver is evident as the three colors found in a single boulder of jade are used to full advantage. Chinese jade carving is filled with symbolism. Each plant and creature have a meaning.
Many of the items on display at the museum were carved by human powered work benches as seen below.
The Lizzadro Museum was founded in 1962 to share Joseph Lizzadro’s collection of jade and other hardstone carvings with the world. Joseph, a hobbiest, had a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and human effort represented within each piece he acquired. The original Lizzadro Collection still serves as the cornerstone on which the rest of the Museum was built.
In 2018, the Oakland Museum of California gifted another significant jade collection assembled by Chang Wen Ti to the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, including the famous Altar of the Green Jade Pagoda. Click on the links below to see hightlights and videos exploring pieces from each collection, and be sure to visit the Museum for the chance to experience each collection in its entirety.
Other Hardstone Carvings
Other beautiful art objects created from stones with high hardness are also on display at the museum and demonstrate similar mastery of form and technique.
