Dear Cathy,
I keep telling you I can't be sure from a picture on the screen; I can be almost 100% sure ONLY when I hold it in my hand. And I have also kept saying, "DON'T buy until you know what you are doing!"
And telling you that Clare Chu in LA, Marsha Vargas Handley in SF and Michael Hughes in NYC are reputable dealers I can vouch for. I can not comment on the honesty of other dealers, or their 'certificates of authenticity' or claims of provenance.
On the screen, your jade looked pretty good. But please reread the first line of this message.
Steven, Charll, George, Giovanni, Pat, and the others go through eBAY etc. I don't.
And I just read what you wrote about a 'love-hate' relationship.
I don't know about your end, but there is NO hate on my end.
Just a lot of frustration when I keep suggesting you NOT spend lots of money till you know what you are doing; but then you post more and more bottles with (I assume) higher and higher price tags, bought after I asked you to slow down and absorb more knowledge first. So I guess you know better what's best for you, and I wish you well.
Best,
Joey
I bought the agates from an I.M. Chait Gallery Auction
I've seen what I think are modern reproductions for sale, but they tend to look dyed, the carving is simple, and they are usually not carved on both sides.
Joey - you had already said you thought my jade piece was old. Now everyone is devaluing this jade that I paid a great deal for and that has provenance!
I do not think it's middle quality or a reproduction.
I will take them all to an appraiser and post the findings.