It is believed that the quantity of jade artifacts without unearthing reports is far greater than those with unearthing reports. As a result, the chance to authenticate jade artifact without unearth report is quite often.  As mentioned in the handbook on this website, jade authentication involves medium identification, antiquity evidence identification, and period identification. As far as jade authentication is concerned, the availability of unearthed reports is only relevant to period identification. It is not easy to identify the period of jades under the condition without supporting evidence such as scripts that appeared on the jades or any documents relevant to the particular jade. In addition, there are no standard or universally accepted methods of jade authentication without an unearthed reports for the present time.  Topological attributes comparison methodology is proposed here before any trustworthy method has already been accepted by most people.

The topological attribute comparison methodology contains the following three procedures:

First, we select a sample jade artifact either with unearth report or has been identified by the public museum that was designated as a specific period

Second, we list as many topological attributes of the sample as we can. These attributes cover the antiquity phenomena due to chemical and physical factors, the motifs, carving style, craftsmanship, and hole drilling pattern described earlier in this handbook.

Third, we map the attributes of the item to be identified with those of the sample item. If we end up with all the attributes matched, then we can infer that the item to be identified should be from the same period of the sample item.

The percentage of the attributes matched may be used as the probability of the object under investigation is from the same period. For example, if 90% of the attributes matched, then we can infer that the item to identify has a probability of 90% from the same period of the sample item. For safe consideration, at least 70% is required to be confident that the item to be identified can be inferred from the period of the sample item.

If the period of the jade artifact to be authenticated has no reference jade artifact with unearthing report, then we may use artifacts of different material such as bronze which has scripts to find the clues.  For example, we have applied this method for the authentication of the Shin dynasty (AD. 8-25) Octagon-shape Jade Container with Dragon and Phoenix Motif and Inscriptions. For the jade seal, the Authentication should be based on the scripts on the base and the style of motifs such as dragon & phoenix of the handle.

There is one interesting nonscientific method used by Chinese seasoned jade collectors is referred to as the hand feeling method. The method used is to rub the jade several times with the thumb to see whether it is shining and have an oiliness but not sticky feeling. If it is shining and oily, it is antique jade. If the jade is not shining and astringent, then it is modern. That is why many Chinese experts insist on touching the jade by hand to believe instead of only seeing it.  They also claim that only studying the documents and visiting the museums without investigating your own collection will not make you a real antique jade expert.

It should be noted that many private museums in China of recent years may collect fake items. Even in public museums, sometimes the collection procedure is not so strict, in the case of Han’s seal of an empress is one example, in my opinion.