Secrets of the Jade Industry 4

It is a common belief in China that nearly anyone can carve jade with the right training. I think this is very true on one level. Once a design has been inked onto the stone that is to be carved, it is then just a matter of choosing the right tools and following the lines that have been drawn. This short video shows how, with the use of a simple table saw and a hand piece with a choice of half a dozen different shaped burs, carving a pendant in the shape of an anchor and another in the shape of a drinking horn is quite straightforward.

Of course, the real skill is not in carving the jade but seeing the design within the stone and using the flaws, cracks and rind to tease it out. But that is what makes the difference between a master carver and a mere craftsman.