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19th-Century Jade Book Now Available in English
Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.
Lotus Gemology announced the release of “Nephrite and Jadeite,” the English version of the German-language book the lab said is the most comprehensive work on jade to ever appear.
Bangkok—Bangkok-based lab Lotus Gemology announced it has released an English version of a 19th-century book on jade.
“Nephrite and Jadeite,” originally published by Heinrich Fischer as “Nephrit und Jadeit” in 1880, was translated from its original German into English, and edited by Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes.
Hughes is the author of several books, including the 2022 book “Jade: A Gemologist's Guide” and “Broken Bangle: The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature,” which came out last year.
The translated book is the first monograph on jade ever written in a Western language, according to the lab.
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“Nephrite and Jadeite,” originally published by Heinrich Fischer as “Nephrit und Jadeit” in 1880, was translated from its original German into English, and edited by Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes.
Hughes is the author of several books, including the 2022 book “Jade: A Gemologist's Guide” and “Broken Bangle: The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature,” which came out last year.
The translated book is the first monograph on jade ever written in a Western language, according to the lab.
Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Leopold Heinrich Fischer was a German polymath who studied medicine and was noted for his publications on entomology, microscopy, mineralogy, archeology, as well as his advanced study of insect taxonomy, and studies of the Stone Age, the lab said.
He examined jade from all over the world, tracking nearly every Western source and some sources in Asia. His book features an “astonishing” amount of detail for being written by a single author, the lab noted.
The English translation includes a 43-page appendix with full bibliographic details of all references cited by Fischer.
It also contains additional references on jade in both Western and Chinese languages, which the lab said is a valuable resource for scholars.
“It is truly astounding and a book that will delight those who open its pages,” said Lotus Gemology.
The hardcover book is $195 and can be ordered here.
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