Jade in the Royal Collection
Vibrant jades collected from around the world
Urn
1901RCIN 954
This urn, made from a boulder of greenstone, was given to King George V and Queen Mary (when The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York) by the New Zealand Government in 1901. In New Zealand, the term greenstone is used to refer to nephrite, bowenite and serpentinite.
The royal couple's visit to New Zealand formed part of a world tour to express gratitude to imperial troops for their service to the Empire during the Boer War. Many of the gifts received on this tour were chosen to reflect traditional materials of the islands.