Tentatively Discussion on Handicraft Techniques of Jade, Gem and Glass Ornaments from Cliff Tombs of Western Jin Dynasty in Cuiping Mountain Site,Zhong County of Chongqing City

With a microscope,the author studied surface traces of the agate beads,an amber ornament and glass beads from cliff tombs of Western Jin Dynasty in Cuiping Mountain site,Zhong County of Chongqing City.The handicraft techniques of these ornaments were analyzed and discussed in this paper.The agate beads were irregular with many relatively large and deep pits on surface which could be caved and polished by somewhat larger and heterogeneous particles of quartz sand.The craftsmen at that time were not able to understand the shortcomings of amber beads such as brittle and thermolabile,and therefore,the amber ornaments showed stress cracking on the edge of drills and its surface.There were three kinds of manufacturing skills including casting-cutting,twining and pipe cutting for the glass beads.The characteristics of these ornaments reflect the handicraft levels in the Western Jin Dynasty,and also provide some new information for the dating and craft-study of the ancient Chinese jade,gem and glass ornaments.