Headlines

Long-Banned Burmese Jade Arrives In US

One piece is on display in New York.

Published

8 years ago

October 26, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Jade from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is starting to legally enter the U.S. following a ban of several years.

Wallace Chan’s “Stilled Life” art jewel, made of imperial jadeite, is on display at TEFAF New York Fall, which runs Oct. 22-26, Forbes contributor Anthony DeMarco writes. It depicts a cicada.

DeMarco explains that the brooch “has to be one of the first pieces of jade to legally enter the U.S. since the ban was imposed in 2008.”

An executive order signed by President Barack Obama on Oct. 7 lifted a U.S. ban on gemstones, including jade and rubies, from Myanmar.

DeMarco says Chan’s editor, Cherry Rao, “was surprised to learn she was able to easily transport the piece into the U.S. from Hong Kong.”

Obama’s Oct. 7 order cited several reasons for lifting the restrictions:

“Historic elections in November 2015 that resulted in the former opposition party, the National League for Democracy, winning a majority of seats in the national parliament and the formation of a democratically elected, civilian-led government.”
“The release of many political prisoners.”
“Greater enjoyment of human rights fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly.”

Read more at Forbes.

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