![scrapbook page with pictures of various carved jade objects and an artisan carving and polishing jade](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_carving/4218986-3-eng-US/ii_wmjs_carving_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_carving/4218986-3-eng-US/ii_wmjs_carving_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_carving/4218986-3-eng-US/ii_wmjs_carving_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_carving/4218986-3-eng-US/ii_wmjs_carving_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_wmjs_carving/4218986-3-eng-US/ii_wmjs_carving_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![jade plant carving and and carved screen with openings](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_beautifulcarvings/4200886-1-eng-US/carving_beautifulcarvings_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_beautifulcarvings/4200886-1-eng-US/carving_beautifulcarvings_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_beautifulcarvings/4200886-1-eng-US/carving_beautifulcarvings_full_1468.jpg 1114w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_beautifulcarvings/4200886-1-eng-US/carving_beautifulcarvings_full_1980.jpg 1114w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_beautifulcarvings/4200886-1-eng-US/carving_beautifulcarvings_full_2475.jpg 1114w)
beautiful carvings
Jade made great tools, but it's also absolutely beautiful! For thousands of years, people have been carving in this strong, durable material. They used jade to make amazing art objects and jewelry.
![carved jade bull figurine](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_groundintoshapes/4200895-3-eng-US/carving_groundintoshapes_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_groundintoshapes/4200895-3-eng-US/carving_groundintoshapes_full_990.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_groundintoshapes/4200895-3-eng-US/carving_groundintoshapes_full_1468.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_groundintoshapes/4200895-3-eng-US/carving_groundintoshapes_full_1980.jpg 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_groundintoshapes/4200895-3-eng-US/carving_groundintoshapes_full_2475.jpg 600w)
ground into shapes
But Jade is such a strong and durable material that you can't cut it with a knife. Instead, people use grit, grains of tiny, hard materials like quartz sand, to slowly grind jade into different shapes.
![man carving jade with motorized machine](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_carvingtechniques/4200929-1-eng-US/carving_carvingtechniques_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_carvingtechniques/4200929-1-eng-US/carving_carvingtechniques_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_carvingtechniques/4200929-1-eng-US/carving_carvingtechniques_full_1468.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_carvingtechniques/4200929-1-eng-US/carving_carvingtechniques_full_1980.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_carvingtechniques/4200929-1-eng-US/carving_carvingtechniques_full_2475.jpg 1000w)
carving techniques
Today, people also use diamond saws or grinding tools to carve jade. These tools make the carving process easier and faster. But a long time ago, before metal was known, jade was carved with other rocks or materials like wood and bamboo. This takes a long time!
![man polishing jade with machine that uses bamboo](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_polishing/4200925-1-eng-US/carving_polishing_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_polishing/4200925-1-eng-US/carving_polishing_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_polishing/4200925-1-eng-US/carving_polishing_full_1468.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_polishing/4200925-1-eng-US/carving_polishing_full_1980.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_polishing/4200925-1-eng-US/carving_polishing_full_2475.jpg 1000w)
polishing
People in southeast Asia still use bamboo to polish jade. It works because bamboo contains tiny quartz crystals that act as grit. Bamboo produces an excellent polish.
![giant carved jade kunz axe from the Olmec people](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_kunzaxe/4200899-1-eng-US/carving_kunzaxe_full_495.jpg 255w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_kunzaxe/4200899-1-eng-US/carving_kunzaxe_full_990.jpg 255w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_kunzaxe/4200899-1-eng-US/carving_kunzaxe_full_1468.jpg 255w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_kunzaxe/4200899-1-eng-US/carving_kunzaxe_full_1980.jpg 255w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/wmjs-what-makes-jade-special/carving_kunzaxe/4200899-1-eng-US/carving_kunzaxe_full_2475.jpg 255w)
Kunz Axe
The Kunz axe is a giant chopper or "celt" that was carved by the Olmec over 2,000 years ago. Look at all the details on the front of the axe. One person may have spent months carving it.