A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT "ANTIQUE" OR "OLD" JADE AND EXPENSIVE ESTATE PIECES. TRUE ANTIQUES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE SOLD OR SHIPPED OUTSIDE CHINA WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL CHINESE GOV'T. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY AND STATED AS SUCH ON THE EXPORT DOCUMENTS. AND CLAIMING SUCH ON THE EXPORT DOCUMENTS MEANS EXTRA COSTS! ASK TO SEE THE GOV'T CERTIFICATE. IF THEY DO NOT HAVE IT AND IT'S A REAL BARGAIN WITH CHEAP SHIPPING, IT IS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY YOU ARE GETTING A REAL ANTIQUE. WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN AND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING IS PROBABLY A COPY OF AN ANTIQUE. MANY ANTIQUE DESIGNS ARE VERY POPULAR AND USED OFTEN AMONGST THE CHINESE FOR THEIR SYMBOLIC VALUE.

SCAN THROUGH ALL THE LISTINGS. IS THIS "RARE" PIECE BEING OFFERED 2, 3, 4 OR MORE TIMES? IS SO, IT IS HARDLY RARE!

AN EXPENSIVE ESTATE PIECE WHETHER JADE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ITEM, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD COME WITH A WRITTEN APPRAISAL FROM A CERTIFIED APPRAISER. IF IT DOESN'T, YOU HAVE NO REAL ASSURANCE AS TO ITS TRUE AGE OR VALUE. SELLER SHOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE SUCH DOCUMENTS IF THEY TRULY STAND BEHIND THEIR ITEMS.

IF BUYING ESTATE OR ANTIQUE PIECES, WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR ITEM, BE SURE TO HAVE THE DOCUMENTS AND PIECE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY FOR AUTHENTICITY BY A HIGH QUALITY DEALER. IT'S WORTH THE TIME AND EXPENSE TO BE SURE!