Hartman Rare Art, Inc.

A family-owned business since 1927

For over 77 years, the Hartman Family and our associates have consistently worked to provide quality antique merchandise to our customers at competitive prices. Should you have any questions about the pieces we feature on this website or if you would like to inquire further about a specific item, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our gallery is located in midtown Manhattan and easily accessible on the second floor. Please note the entrance to the building is on 53rd Street between Park and Madison Avenues. We are open to the public Monday to Friday from 10:00AM until 4:30PM.

The Chinese art of jade carving spans back over the centuries and truly an integral part of Chinese artistic heritage. Early on, it was believed that jade had positive spiritual powers that could "bring light to dark places", and jade items were highly prized and sought out for use and display in the home. Jade has been carved into functional items like vases, censers, water droppers, and bowls as well as decorative objects such as figural statues, animal forms, plants and flowers. Smaller items such as pendants and "fingering" sculptures were also often carved from jade. Jade generally ranges in color from a pale celadon green to a fine white color and as dark as "spinach green," and even black. Yellow jade is prized for its rarity. Jade typically has a hardness of 6.5-7.0 on Moh's scale, and typically has a waxy or frosted lustre.

Jadeite is a stone similar in composition to jade, however, the range of colors that jadeite is found in is truly much greater than that of jade. Jadeite is mined in Myanmar and slightly harder stone than jade, having a hardness of approximately 7.0-7.5 on Moh's scale. Items carved in jadeite were typically made later than those carved in jade as people only began mining jadeite during the late 19th century.

A great deal of confusion exists among the common population about what stones that are often referred to as jade are truly jade (nephrite). This is due to the fact that high demand for the stone pushed jewelers and designers to establish trade names for other, more readily available green stones that would confuse buyers. For example, serpentine - another stone - is often referred to as "new jade."

There is a great concern too about the possibility of new reproduction items being falsely represented as antique. As there is no way to test jade for its age, it is a dealer's responsibility to make sure that the pieces they are buying are high quality and truly antique. While mistakes can be made, we strive to make sure that the items we procure and present for sale are genuine.

If you are perhaps interested in other gemstones, please consider our Chinese Rock page.

Pitung in the form of a Family of Ducks

This fine jade pitung is carved from a solid boulder of Celadon colored jade that is highlighted in places with rust-colored striations. The body is carved in the form of a mother duck flanked by two younglings. The cover is disguised in the form of a baby duckling seated atop the mother's back. The piece measures a total 7.75 inches length and comes with a fitted carved wood stand.

CJ02

Price: $11,000.00

Pair of Gu Form Vases

These gu-form mounted vases are carved from spinach jade striated throughout with bright green and flecked with black. The exterior surfaces are carved in relief with fret-work and taotie mask decorations. Each vase measures 13 5/8 inches height by 6 1/2 inches diameter at the rim.

CJ03

Price: $30,000.00

Jadeite Gourd form Pitung

This stunning jadeite brush-washer is carved in the form of a vine-covered gourd. Insects and birds are carved in miniature amidst the twining stems. The jadeite itself is superb quality, of fine white color in most places and spotted throughout with segments of brilliant "apple green". The piece measures 10 inches length and comes with a finely carved wooden stand.

CJ04

Price: $48,000.00

White Jade Mogul Style Box and Cover

This beautiful Mogul-style jade box and cover was crafted in China, circa 1800. The box is flattened disc-shape featuring pierced decoration of floral and foliate motifs on the sides. The cover features a circular plaque elaborately carved in relief with a floating dragon. The box measures 7.25 inches diameter at the widest point.

CJ06

Price: $24,000.00

White Jade Table Screen with wooden frame

The wooden frame for the jade screen is openly carved with elaborate geometric patterns. The rectangular jade plaque it surrounds is carved to one side with a landscape scene inhabited by two lone figures, one riding a mule. The plaque is carved in relief. The stone itself was likely harvested from the exterior of a jade boulder, as much of the dark russet skin is intact. The artisan utilized the texture and coloration of the "skin" to the higher points of the relief carving. The piece measures a total 15.75 inches height with the stand. The plaque itself measures 8 inches length by 5.5 inches height.

CJ09

Price: $15,000.00

Apple Green Jadeite Censer and Cover

The body is globular and set atop 3 raised supports, 7.5 inches total height on wood stand. Two mask and ring handles are set opposite one another on the exterior body. The censer has a fitted cover topped with a foo dog and its young. The jadeite utilized is very fine quality, having an icy white tone highlighted throughout with sections of brilliant "apple green".

CJ13

Price: $20,000.00

Boulder Carving with Hinged Door

This piece is fairly remarkable in its carving as it features a double-door hinged entirely from the boulder itself. On either side, the door is the central subject. One side is carved to represent the exterior of a dwelling. The door is surrounded by rockery and a female figure approaches, holding a fan and another object. The opposite side displays the interior - a woman attends to the door. Furniture and other domestic objects are carved into the jade besides the door. The piece measures 16 inches wide by 8.5 inches high and comes with a fitted, carved wood stand.

CJ14

Price: $70,000.00