the bead is pretty!
can you give dimensions please? -essential for identification...

Thanks for your help guys! This one is rather larger Frederick. It is 37mm long x 20mm wide. The measurements vary a little depending on where you measure as its not perfectly symmetrical. As a fan of all things Oriental I imagine it's Chinese.... and hope it has some age to it as opposed to a modern repro... But hey let's hear what you experts make of it! Thanks again....

You will probably notice from my later photos the angle of the holes differ quite a lot on the two ends.... Would there be a reason for this? Cheers!

Following redmountain's pointer, I did a quick search for jade beads from the Spring-Autumn Period, and found this interesting site.

You have to click on the "Links" "Relevant Information" button on the right to see the drawings, but it shows how the beads were strung and worn.

http://english.chnmus.net/fortnightselection/node_1454.htm

This is very interesting RedMountain.... So you're saying this is an Archaistic job.... I have found a pic of what I assume is that bead (a very famous one I presume?) and it is the first one I've seen showing the taper.. Although the proportion and colours seem quite different....I know the Chinese have a long tradition of imitating the ancient... going back to the Ming Dynasty... So I'm still hoping my bead isn't a really modern version...?

Hi,
My son is a specialist of the archaic and antique jades in China. I have already seen these beads and I had it. They are rather recent, but they are jade or at least there néphrite. They are attractive but they are copies of old jade bead. I thing so, but they are nice.

I feel it is beautiful. The white color of the jade is very nice. And I would love to find a copy just like this one. Although I feel it is oversized and not perfectly carved. Copies like this are made by laser robots and resold cheaply in China.

Just Fred

The seller, Garuda Trading, lists them as Warring States replicas.

there are many copies of these beads

Careful design composition and good carving.

Hi Terry,

When you were buying these, did you also have a few more options in patterns and colors?

Just Fred

That one on the he bottom is pretty close.... :0)

Wow thanks very much everyone! That's really helpful :0)