Ordering Disorder – Mughal, Central Asian and Chinese jades – An Attempt At Classification
The Annual Woolf Jade Lecture
Speaker: Dr. Jean-Baptiste Clais
Over the past two decades, scholarly research and exhibitions have significantly expanded our knowledge of Asian jade production and trade during the modern era. Studies have highlighted Timurid and post-Timurid jade craftsmanship in Central Asia, as well as the rich tradition of Mughal jades. In China, the extensive jade production under Emperor Qianlong has been thoroughly examined, as well as his collection of Mughal and Central Asian jades received as tribute after the incorporation of Xinjiang in 1759–1760 and the following creation of Chinese “Mughal style” jades.
Thousands of jades have belonging to these productions have since become accessible to scholars through exhibitions, art market sales, books and digital publications, growing the known corpus from a few hundred to several thousand examples. This wealth of material has enabled the identification of distinct stylistic groups among Indian, Central Asian, and Chinese Mughal-style jades. However, attributing these works to specific locations and periods remains challenging. The lack of inscriptions on most pieces, combined with the scarcity of workshop records from India and Central Asia, leaves many questions unresolved. How many jade production centers existed in India and Central Asia, and when were they active? Which jades were truly imperial, and what does the varying quality of certain pieces indicate—a decline in imperial patronage, the presence of sub-imperial workshops, or both? Did Central Asian jades reach India, and how should Chinese jades in the Mughal style be categorized? We will explore possible answers to these questions.
This lecture is sponsored by the Woolf Charitable Trust.
Members do not need to book to attend this lecture.
5:30 pm – Society of Antiquaries opens for members’ refreshments
6:15 pm – Lecture begins
Venue Accessibility Information
The Society of Antiquaries welcomes wheelchairs and mobility vehicles however since the main entrance consists of steps they will provide a ramp. Essential companions are also welcome and Hearing Loops are built into the Lecture Room AV system. There are no designated disabled toilets but toilets are located on the ground floor.
For more information visit Accessibility.
Speaker
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Clais - 柯诣Senior curator, Asian & porcelain collections, decorative arts department, musée du LouvreCurator of Asian and porcelain collections, dpt of decorative art, musée du Louvre. Former curator of : Mughal arts & Islamic weapons, Islamic art dpt, musée du Louvre, Chinese art, musée Guimet, Oriental collection, musée Delacroix (subsidiary of the Louvre). Lecturer at Sciences Po Paris in global history, President of the association of the teacher of Sciences Po Paris.
Ph.D in social and political anthropology (university of Saint-Étienne), curator’s degree (Institut national du Patrimoine), masters in anthropology (Sorbonne), master’s degree in museology and bachelor’s degree in art history (École du Louvre).
Specialising on Mughal daggers & jades and Chinese decorative arts, history of pop culture. Recent projects: A Passion for China, the Adolphe Thiers collection (exhibition 2025 Musée du Louvre), Insert Coin – Pinball Machines, Arcade Cabinets, and Coin-Op Games (exhibition 2024 Paris Mint Museum), Les arts Moghols (dir. With Corinne Lefèvre) éditions Citadelles et Mazenod 2024.
